Okaies... (My English teacher will be rolling her eyes at this slang!!!😆) But here I am with the update.. Sowwie Vee broke a rule and double posting!!!
enjoy this update.. And plleeej don't gobble it up.. Savour it... roll it on your tongue... enjoy it... ssslllooowwwlllyyy😆😆😆
Phew...
Thanks later.. for parts 8&9...😳
Enjoy...
Part 10
Khanak made it a point to visit the office and deal with some issues since Papa was getting restless as he was not allowed to go there... She tried not to think of what happened yesterday afternoon... knowing that her mind and heart would take another severed beating... she tried to focus on the present as the team made a presentation and she had to report to Papa. Unwanted though "Doc" appeared into her thoughts and she jerked as someone spoke curiously.. "Miss Khanna, is everything in order.. if yes, we could move on.. to the next slide?" She bit her lip, slipping her professional mask back in place chiding her self mentally for letting it slip in the first place... her second track muttered... 'Pah.. pah... Doc.. doc... who's there? Shantanu... not doc.. ' She took in a deep irritated breath very softly muttering under her breath "Shut-up" and her papa's secretary who was jotting down the minutes of the meeting paused asking softly.. "Miss Khanna... you okay... should.. should we stop?" Khanak shook her head apologising.. "No.. no please.. carry on.. I.. I just remembered an errand.. sorry... am with you.. go ahead..." flushing deeply...
Shantanu was already heading towards the bridge that connected the old hospital building to the new one and rushed as he got paged again... As he made it to the Emergency room to attend the emergency... his professional mask placed with an efficiency that belied his mental status... Later as he sat in his cabin consulting the reports placed on his desk.. the words blurring as a smile took their place... as he was lost there... in that look, the sweetness of the smile.. as soft tinkling of the chudis sounded like sweet music to his ears... her little bracelet of small ghughris... he jerked all of a sudden.. the three prominent deep lines making their appearance on his broad forehead... as his brain freezes and chillingly chides... 'Stay away from there SK.. It is a no entry zone!! Have you lost it man?' And thanks the timely interruption, as a nurse comes through the door after a prefunctionary knock... "Dr. Khandelwal, here are the reports that you were looking for.. and the patient in bed 15 needs the new medication chart.. could you please authorize this?" He mechanically reaches for the chart and scans through before changing some instructions and then scrawling his signature in black ink.. hands them back to the nurse who looks her fill at his down cast head... dreaming her own little bit.. thinking lucky will be the girl who he marries... His cell buzzes alerting the nurse of her imminent departure and he nods at her as she leaves as he barks softly into the phone.. "Mom... I am a bit busy.."
Clueless to them both Madhavi and Radha meet and have plans of their own. "Radha.. sigh it has been so so long.. I missed you.. your very calm and soothing presence.." Radha hugs Madhavi knowing how much Madhavi misses that spark in the relationship with her own son. Madhavi always jested about being jealous of Shaan's relationship with Radha... but it was all healthy and Radha always laughed it away... Today she could see the pain hidden in the warm brown eyes so similar to Shaan's.. the pain that she felt for her son's loss.. After a little ado and much convincing, Madhavi spoke of her plan and Radha agreed with a naughty smile in their eyes... "Yes Madhavi... I would be the happiest!!!" Madhavi's eyes shone too.. as she whispered.. "And I will be the luckiest..." As they both giggled like teenagers...
A day later at the International airport...
Shantanu craned his neck in the crowds to look for the familiar pepper and salt chignon, not a strand out of place on that head... and he spied her walking even now, back ramrod straight... with her silver rimmed glasses in place at her eyes held by the pearl necklace... Those eyes which had the world of experience and intelligence in them as they sought out her favourite... and shouted loudly as she looked into his damp eyes... "Shaan!!!" He bit his lower lip from trembling with the emotion and waved to her as Sohan chachaji walked by her side... Shantanu edged his way through the swarms of visitors there to receive their loved near and dear ones...
As soon as he reached them, instantly leaned forward to take chachaji's blessings and then daadi's... But she just too full of emotions spoke "Daadi ke gale lag jaa.. aaja baache.." And he needed no more prodding.. he instantly enveloped her petite figure in his arms as he sighed at her shoulder... "Missed you beautiful..." And she chided him gently wiping away an errant tear from the corner of his eye as she caressed his cheek gently... "Chal badmaash... Shaan.. yeh kya... apna kya haal banaa diya hain? Alby ki toh main baraabar khabar lene waali hoon!! Kaamchor kahin ka!!" Shantanu could not help but grin biting his lower lip and shaking his head.. "Daadi... main theek to hoon... aap in fact mujhe kamzor lag rahi hain.. nothing doing.. full prescription I am writing.. follow it staunchly else this Dr. Khandelwal is going to be very unhappy..." But daadi knew the pain he was hiding behind that smile spoke its own story and she smiled softly tenderly stroking his cheek as they all turned and moved towards the car...
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Daadi settled into the routine after jet lag within a couple of days. During which she saw many friends of the family and in between worried for her favourite grand son Shaan... she sighed as he remained aloof as ever.. and on her insistence alone, decided to move into Khandelwal house... She took personal care of removing all memories of Natasha from his room, knowing that they would haunt him unnecessarily and he needed to move one... she rested a lot and also chatted with her own friends. She heard Madhavi then speaking softly on her cell and shook her head. Madhavi was a good daughter in law and mother, yet a lot could be improved upon... she sighed as she saw Madhavi walk upto her "Maaji, yeh lijiye.. baat kijiye... " Daadi frowned and asked.. "Kaun hain..." But Madhavi had decided to be stubborn and just smiled... waving the cell phone in front of her... Sighing daadi took the cell and spoke a soft tentative "Hello?" And for a moment a thrill passed through her as she then spoke "Radha!!! Radha... kaisi ho?"
Khanak looked up from her laptop on which she was working furiously trying to edit a few designs. she had promised Maahi that she will send them today... as she saw Ma pass her room chatting effusively into her cell.. Frowning she hit the send button on her email... and then walked out as Ma went onto the terrace and murmured.. "Nahin ji, aisi koi baat nahin hain.. chaliye phir aaj hum zaroor milne aa jaayenge.. pakka... namasteji.." She sighed as she turned and saw Khanak.. "Arre.. accha hua tu yahin hain, we have to go.. quick.. get ready.. hey Prabhu.. kitne kaam hain aur abhi tak tere Papa walk se aaye nahin hain..." Khanak frowned and asked.. "Where are we going?" Radha hid a smile and said.. "We have been invited for tea.. come on now.. get ready.. We have to be there in less than 10 minutes... come on!! And dress in that pink saree.. we will be going to the temple after... Arre Vindu.. kya cho tamhe.. jaldi aavo, aapne javaanu che..." Khanak raised her brow as she heard Ma softly chide Papa on her cell...
Shantanu jerked to a stop as earlier he had heard his Mom whisper on the phone to someone.. "Na..na... no.. Radha... Okay.. I will send his picture then.. uh uh.. hmm.. Shaan should not know now... He is adamant not to get married now... yes.. dekhenge... okay.. bye.. uh.. yes yes that sounds better good, we will wait..." Shantanu closed his eyes at the horrifying thought of what his Mom was angling for. He wanted to shout out to the world.. 'God why was everyone hell bent on seeing him married!!? For crying out loud.. can a man not remain a bachelor?!' He finished some reading on his laptop on a certain procedure and decided instantly... He was about to walk out of the house when daadi gently stopped him.. "Shaan... are you off to somewhere.. I thought you said you had nothing lined up for today.. Yeh kya, abhi abhi thodi der pehle to aaye.. aur ab kahaan chal diye..."
He closed his eyes in frustration as he thought he might sneak out quietly and turned "Daadi.. woh.. mujhe kuch yaad aa gayaa tha.. is liye.. I.." But before he could make any feeble excuse Madhavi spoke behind daadi.. "Shaan.. kahaan jaa rahein ho.. I need you here beta.. Radha is coming over and I feel you must personally stay and thank them beta.. maaji, Radha ne hi ek din mein saara ghar theek karwaaya..." Daadi turned a surprised look on her face as she asked "Oh.. to phir Shaan you must stay.. it will not look good if you just walk out..." Shantanu jerked in a little relief... 'What Radha aunty was coming.. Oh.. then its okay..' His heart did a funny loop and he frowned again thinking but before he could react in any way, Alby came and murmured.. "Khannas are here madam..." And Radha came in along with K-uncle and Shantanu smiled as he walked to welcome them...
Daadi smiled and blessed this couple.. They were good friends of the khandelwal family since a long time now.. she welcomed them and led them into the living room as Radha swiftly turned back "Arre.. Shaan... could you please see where Khanak is? I think she is parking the car..." His heart drummed like a macau loudly and a voice seemed to drone... 'Jingles.. Jingles... ' He grimly grit his teeth but smiled and nodded as daadi spoke "Khanak!! I have not met her since so long.. Kahaan hain Khanak?" Just then a soft voice spoke.. "Daadi.. main yahaan hoon..." Three pairs of eyes turned to her at the same time... One was her mother's proud pair, other was daadi's disbelieving ones.. and the third were intense ones as they noticed her in a saree.. khanak felt very self conscious as she tucked her curl as a habit... and was aware of a single pair... which always managed to send a tingle down her spine... she felt very self conscious in the saree that she had donned. Ma had literally forced her to wear one as she had said about later on going to the mandir... She licked her dry lips as she fidgeted with her pallu with one hand and moved forward hoping that she did not show her trepidation in her step... as every step she took was minutely observed by the same pair which sent her heart racing even more faster...
Daadi broke his spell as she murmured.. "Khanak.. kya yeh meri wohi Khanak hain? Yahaan to aa zaraa.. main dekhoon.. Radha.. yeh moti tune kahaan chupaaya tha ab tak.. idhar to aa laado.." Khanak reached daadi and instantly felt a heat emanating from his presence.. he was standing close to daadi as well and his familiar fragrance hit her nose as if incensing her very presence of mind. From the corner of her eyes she could see the raw masculinity exuded by his simple attire.. dressed to kill in tan trousers and deep navy blue "Bush" shirt... the strength of the corded muscles rippling as the fine silk covered steel wrapped casually across his chest... not doing any good for the battering of her senses... But she leaned forward and touched daadi's feet.
Daadi simply brought her up and holding her chin tipped her face and spoke softly.. "Kissiki nazar na lage tujhe..." Khanak wet her lips nervously again and her fingers as usual tucked her curl behind her ear... "Daadi.. kaisi hain aap? Aap to humein bhool hi gayi.. Not fair.." Daadi smiled and then suddenly felt the quiet from her grandson.. Her age and experience prodded her to sense the crackle of electricity between these two.. and suddenly had a thought... "Shaan.. badi sunder lag rahi hain na Khanak.. baap re.. main to pehchaan hi nahin paaye.. kitni dubli ho gayee hain.. khaati nahin ho kya?" Khanak wanted the earth to engulf her.. as she felt his gaze on her face.. She dared not meet his eyes... Sunil uncle and Madhavi aunty had walked out to see what was holding them when they too exclaimed "Khanak... OMG You look so beautiful..." That thankfully saved Khanak from replying..
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Khanak did not realise how she spent the next half hour. She wanted just to disappear into thin air... vanish.. she had felt his every move after arriving... his soft voice as he spoke to Papa and Ma... as daadi kept her by her side and spoke to her softly.. asking about her what she was up to, what she did... Madhavi rose to see about the tea when she took that opportunity to escape from that disturbing gaze... "Aunty.. allow me.. I.. I will arrange please... " Feeling this dire need to escape from the scrutiny of that gaze.. she had felt it on her so many times... So Madhavi smiled and sat down as Khanak rose and slid past him... He swallowed as his heart refused to stop racing as he moved his feet a little to let her by.. but the soft material of her Saree brushed his arm and that did not do any good either... 'Damn Jingles.. what is it about you.. I had never felt like this in your company...'
Khanak leaned her head against the door in the washroom. She had already informed Alby in the kitchen that Madhavi aunty was ready for the tea... Her heart raced wildly and she felt this prick of tears frustrated at the situation that she was in. Ma had not let her in as to whose house they were visiting for tea and not till the last moment did she jerk as she had decided to drive herself... There was no way she could turn back then... Bravely she had put up this farce as now she regretted staying.. She splashed some cool water on her face before leaving the washroom that was situated at the landing of the first floor... Taking a deep breath and fixing her face, she opened the door and walked out to move towards the stairs at the landing when her hand was tugged and she almost shrieked but then was pulled into a room and a strong hand clamped down over her mouth preventing anything from escaping...
Shantanu pulled a shocked Khanak into his room with his hand over her mouth... slamming her at a wall and closed the door with his leg... "Dammit Jingles.. don't scream..." her eyes wide.. her breath released in short gasps as he felt its warmth at his fingers that covered her soft mouth... his own breathing laboured too as his heart thudded with unexpected speed and he was clueless as to what he was up to... "Shhh... STOP.. DON'T SCREAM.." He hissed down into her shocked countenance... All her vital processes as if came to a complete halt.. She could see his evening stubble and his breath so very akin to him... her heart flopped first and then raced and she shook her head.. as he slowly lifted his hand as she hissed up at him.. "Just what in the world are you up to Doc?"
Suddenly realising that she had again slipped... she resorted to anger as she tried to wriggle out of his hold.. He was too close for her comfort... "Shantanu.. just.. let me go!!" He had held her by her arm and now the pressure of his fingers dug into her soft arm... He looked through slits as he spoke still softly in a whisper as he placed his finger against her lips... "Shh.. quiet.." She froze again as the finger did nothing to help her battered senses... He seemed to be straining to hear for any sounds outside his room... She drank her fill of his handsome features and then swallowed looking away as he sighed and in relief sagged bringing him even more closer to her as their bodies just brushed... He realised that his finger was still against her lips and he suddenly looked deeply into the molten black gaze... She did not move.. could not move even if she wished.. did not want to move.. this memory she would cherish her entire life.. as if it were God's gift... But was not prepared for what he did in the very next instant...
He found this sudden urge to trace the perfect bow of her lips... thinking of how would they feel under his own? He went on dangerously as he heard his hoarse alien voice... "Jingles... a complete metamorphosis... a beautiful butterfly..." Now the finger was on it's way dangerously across the soft expanse of her cheek as she felt his breathing clashing with her own... as she felt the heat from his close proximity as well as the warmth from his breath... the tiny hairs at her nape rose of their own volition and she shuddered as his finger reached her jaw as he murmured huskily... "So beautiful..." Suddenly she knew that if he were to kiss her then she would have sublimely obliged... and that very thought jerked her as she slapped his hand and finger furiously jerking him... "SHANTANU.. just what are you doing? Are you drunk or something? Stop that" Her voice went up certain decibels and he shushed her again clamping his palm over her mouth... "Stop it will you?! Dammit... I.. I do not intend to take your vanity to task.. right now I just need a favour from you.. So if you promise not to scream or shout.. I will take my hand off... You with me here?" She could only nod as again her heart was battered... Her fists sandwiched in between them somewhere halfway between his shoulders and chest... he felt a relief as her hands were not on his chest else he would be wasting this precious God sent moment in futile clueless explanations...
He suddenly straightened much to the dismay of her heart but thankfully to her mind as he slowly opened the door to his room and peeked out and let out a sigh... as he closed the door again and turning to her indicated for her to move towards the garden terrace adjacent to his room... She frowned but did as he bade... her heart willing her as her brain stopped her.. but today her heart refused to be under her brain's command... as she complied closely followed by him at her heel... Her eyes quickly taking note of the missing portrait on the wall... Her heart fluttered even more but she followed him quietly... Outside on the terrace he closed the French doors and she turned at him least realising that he was following close and almost got tipped over by his huge strength.. had it not been for the brandishing strength of the steel that wound around her waist she would be embarrassingly on the floor... As time stilled again... the moment suspended in eternity... as his bare arm grazed the soft tender silk at her waist... and she gazed up into those unfathomable eyes, suddenly at a loss of words.. not heeding all warnings that she was receiving from her sanity... He gulped as his eyes darted to the quick movement at her lips where her tongue flashed out and in... He almost leaned down to capture them but let her go instantly..
She straightened and as if resorting to irritation and ire, rounded back on him.. feeling like a stuck record... "JUST WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU UP TO? WH.." All he did was to raise his hand to silence her tirade and she lost her cool even more.. her ire irked... but his very next words were like a douse on burning embers... "I.. I need your help Jingles.. it.. its nothing.. just your help.. Please..." She was stunned, his plea rendering her speechless.. her second track muttered.. 'Well well the mighty seem to crumble.. your Doc.. pleading.. har har har..' She was so tempted to giver her second track her piece of mind... but he moved away.. restlessly as he spoke.. as she stood there in between him and the french doors... She could see his hard profile.. and a struggle there as he waited for some tense moments and her heart raced ahead a feeling creeping within that something was about to happen which would completely change her entire life... "You might think I am crazy.. but this is the only thing I can think of.. please.. listen to me just this once.. listen don't interrupt yet.. I.. I will give you time to consider.." The last part sounded more like the audacious Shantanu Khandelwal that she was used to.. and her breathing relaxed with that familiarity as she nodded for him to continue...
He looked into her eyes as if minimising that distance and then spoke in the most huskiest voice "Marry me Jingles..."
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Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
