Part 14
Shilpa and Rahul were quiet the whole day..and so was Sara. She was mad at her Maasi and Maamu. Shilpa thought about the morning incident, and realized that it wasn't only Rahul's fault. She was equally responsible for it, she should have told Rahul that Sara was still sleeping before she left.
"Rahul..." Shilpa entered his room and sat next to him. He was sitting on the bed, lost in his own thoughts. "Am sorry, I know I should've told you before leaving...I was in a rush and"
"It's ok Shilpa" he forced a smile.
"No its not, I blamed you for everything...and you also got into an argument with Muskaan...am really sorry for that, am gonna talk to Muskaan" she said placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I said na, it's ok. And you don't need to talk to anyone. She was right anyways..." he sighed.
"No, she wasn't. She doesn't know how much you love Sara and care for her. I can't let her have the wrong impression of you"
"She also loves and cares for Sara, and am sure she said all that coz she got really worried, just like we did" he said.
"I will talk to her...anyways I was thinking that we should take Sara for ice cream tonight, she is mad at us" Shilpa pouted.
"Ok am up for it" he smiled.
Sara walks in the room with a frown.
"Where is my doll?" she asks angrily.
"It should be in your room na princess" Shilpa smiles walking up to her.
"It's not there" she replied placing her tiny hands on her hips.
"Some of her toys are in that basket Shilpa" Rahul pointed at a red basket.
"I will check on my own" Sara said and walked towards the basket.
Rahul and Shilpa looked at each other, thinking how to get her mood back.
"Saru, we're sorry na" Shilpa pouted kneeling in front of her.
"Yes, we're really really really sorry...and we promise that it won't happen again" Rahul said holding his ears.
"Plomish?" Sara asked.
"Pakka plomish" Shilpa grinned.
"Ok" Sara smiled and hugged both of them.
"And we will be going for ice cream today" Rahul said kissing Sara's cheeks.
"Yayyy" Sara jumped in joy.
Buckling Sara in her car seat Rahul backed out of the driveway once Shilpa got in.
"I want pink, blue, orange, yellow, purple, and white ice cream" Sara said counting off all the colors on her fingers.
"Angel ice creams don't come in all those colors" Rahul chuckled looking at her through the rearview mirror.
"Achaa? Sach main nahi hote maasi?"
"Haan princess sach main nahi hote" Shilpa laughs remembering all the colors she had requested.
"Okay but I want a biggg ice cream!" Sara demands stretching her hands to show how big of an ice cream she wanted.
"Sure angel" Rahul smiled "Chalo we reached here!" he parked.
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"Maybe I should call her and ask her if Sara is fine.." Armaan pondered twirling the cell in his hands.
Just as he was about to dial her number his ego got the better of him and he immediately cut the call.
"I'll just ask Rahul.. don't want to hear her voice anyways" he decided.
Dialing Rahul he waited for him to pick up.
"Hey"
"Hey Rahul.. Armaan here"
"Yeah Armaan.. what's up?" Rahul asked.
As soon as Shilpa heard his name her attention level perked up.
"How is Sara now?" Armaan asked.
"Maamu is it boyflend? I wanna talk to him!!" Sara said excitedly.
"Ask her yourself" Rahul smiled handing the phone to Sara.
"Hey girlfriend! Your boyfriend is missing you"
"Then come meet me na.. we are having ice cleam.. you come na, and bring Muski too" Sara said.
Rahul and Shilpa both looked away hearing Sara inviting them, the last thing they wanted to do was come face to face.
"No girlfriend aaj nahi.. will see you tomorrow" Armaan said quickly.
"Okay boyflend.."
"Awww don't be sad girlfriend, and enjoy your ice cream!" Armaan smiled.
"Okay boyflend! Byee" Sara handed back the phone to Rahul with a big grin.
Flipping through the channels, Muskaan just shuts it off. She kept on thinking about how Sara was left alone, and her argument with Rahul. No matter how much she tried distracting herself, her mind kept on going back to the argument.
"Ughh I hate him..." She mumbled throwing the clicker on the couch "Hate is a strong word..whatever I don't like him...why isn't he leaving me alone? Why do I keep thinking about him??" She rolled her eyes walking into the kitchen to get herself cold water "I will get some sleep tonight...and WON'T think about him...yeah..I will sleep" she sighed and gulped down the glass of chilled water.
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The next day, Shilpa informed twice that Sara was in her room before heading out and even texted him.
Rahul got Sara ready, and gave her breakfast.
Rahul takes Sara at the studio. While walking out, he need a group of people dancing on the stage, he scanned for that one face, and there she was..dancing in her white tank top and black shorts. He stared and stared, till she looked at him.
She immediately stopped dancing and stared back nervously; she gulped and got out of his sight. Rahul shook his head and headed out thinking he needs to stop staring at her and he wondered how he will face her later on.
Shilpa looked towards the door nervously for the millionth time. They had all been rehearsing for two hours now and Armaan still hadn't shown up.
"Umm sir.. do you know where Armaan is?" Shilpa asked the director, tired of wondering to herself.
"Oh yeah Shilpa.. he said he can't come today.. sorry for not letting you know before" the director replies before getting back to what he was doing.
"Not coming? He is alright na?" worry was immediately visible on Shilpa's face "Kal toh theek lag raha tha" she mumbled fiddling with her fingers.
"Should I go check on him?" she thought picking up her bag but immediately put it down "Why should I check.. busy hoga kissi ladki ke saath" her blood boiled in anger.
Asking for permission to leave as she couldn't practice her part anyways, Shilpa headed home.
Hearing her cell ringing as she was driving, Shilpa turned on her Bluetooth and accepted the call.
"Hey Shilps can you pick up Sara today? I have a meeting till late" Rahul informed her.
"Oh yeah sure Rahul.. I was heading home anyways, will pick her up." Shilpa said.
"No shoot today?"
"Uh..No.. I will go pick her up" Shilpa said speeding up her last few words.
"You can try to hide but you can't lie to me sis" Rahul whispered putting the cell on the table "I can tell something is amiss between her and Armaan" he tapped his fingers on the desk, but didn't get to think too much about the matter as he had to rush for his meeting.
"Hey Muskaan" Shilpa smiled walking towards Muskaan as the class ended.
"Hey Shilps!"
"Maaasiii" Sara shouted in glee rushing up to Shilpa and hugging her.
"Wah princess you look really happy today" Shilpa smiled.
"Muski taught us this awefome dance maasi!" Shilpa said.
"Oh wow princess I can't wait to see it!"
"Chalo I will see you guys later" Muskaan said touching Sara's cheek "I need to go work on choreography for the next dance."
"Uh.. Muskaan" Shilpa started off seeing Muskaan's crestfallen face, she could tell that Muskaan hasn't been taking care of herself well since that argument with Rahul.
"Yeah?" Muskaan asked turning around.
Shilpa was about to talk to her about Rahul, but then she thought it would be better for Rahul and Muskaan to work things out on their own, that way their relationship would become stronger as well.
"Nothing..Good luck with the choreography" Shilpa patted her shoulder.
Giving Shilpa a weak smile, Muskaan headed to her office.
Ever since Shilpa had come home, she was quiet and seemed lost, which didn't go unnoticed by Rahul.
After putting Sara to sleep, he went to Shilpa's room to talk to her.
"What's up sis" he asked with a smile.
"Nothing" she said closing the magazine.
"What's going on haan?" he asked.
"Was just going through the magazine...am gonna sleep now" she yawned.
"Am not talking about that...is something bothering you? wanna talk about it?"
"No, am just tired" she forced a smile.
"Did Armaan say something?" he finally asked.
"N-No...he didn't even come today" she said looking away.
"And you are worried...hmm am gonna call him" Rahul said taking out his phone.
"No don't, am not worried about him...he must be busy with other things" she said rolling her eyes.
"Had an argument with him?" he tried talking about it again. He couldn't see his sister like that.
"Yes, yesterday...I took my anger out on him" she sighed.
"It's your fault sis..." Rahul said holding her hand "You can't take your anger out on somebody else, when they were just concerned and were trying to help" he said looking down.
"If that's the case then you should say sorry to Muskaan, don't you think?" she asked and he just nodded.
"You should call Armaan and check if everything is fine since he didn't show up or call" Rahul smiled and walked out.
Shilpa thought about what Rahul said and was even gonna call but then she thought it would be better if she talks to him face to face tomorrow.
Although, Rahul texted Muskaan saying sorry, he fell asleep while waiting for her to reply.
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Part 15
Shilpa waited impatiently for Armaan, but when he came she couldn't find the courage to go up to him and talk and most importantly, she did not wanted to talk to him in front of all the people.
Seeing him walk to the water fountain, she followed him.
"Armaan?" she tapped his shoulder. He sneezed as soon as he turned around.
"Bless you" she said.
"Thanks" he replied coldly.
"Can I talk to you for a min?" she asked.
Seeing his red nose, she figured out that he was sick and therefore didn't show up yesterday.
"Is it about work?" he asked and coughed covering his mouth.
"No..." she gulped. She knew he wouldn't talk to her "Wanted to say sorry" she looked down.
"No need to" he said and walked away, but she followed him.
"Armaan please listen na...I know maine gusse mein bohot kuch bol diya tha us din, but I didn't mean it...really" She said holding his wrist to stop him.
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"Hey Muskaan" Rahul smiled as Muskaan came up to him and Sara.
"Hi..." she said "Sara you can go join your friends" she smiled at Sara as she ran off to her friends.
"Sara dances really well now...I saw her practicing last night" Rahul said.
"Yea...she loves dancing and that's why she is learning it quickly" Muskaan smiled.
"Am really sorry about that day by the way" Rahul said looking into her eyes.
"I saw your text..." she said looking down.
"Then why didn't you reply?" he asked slightly disappointed as he had been waiting for her reply.
"Shilpa.. it doesn't matter." Armaan said slowly but firmly getting her hand off his wrist "Anyways it's an old habit of you to hurt people badly and then just say a simple sorry.." he said coldly.
"Ar.." Shilpa started off as she felt her eyes welling up.
"It's okay Shilpa.. me forgiving you doesn't matter.. it's not like I'm anything to you so my apology shouldn't matter either. We need to go inside for a shot now, so see you in there." he says curtly before turning away and walking into the acting studio.
"Woh.. I err.." Muskaan mumbled. She had seen his message yesterday night, and did type out a reply, actually many replies.. but before she could hit send on any of them she would end up deleting it.
"I need to go.. late for the class" she mutters quickly and rushes off before he can say another word.
Rahul looks at her retreating figure and can feel the sharp pain in his heart. The pain Muskaan had given him by refusing to accept his apology, the pain she had given him by not acknowledging him properly, the pain he had given himself by letting her go away from him.
Sighing, he made his way to the acting studio as he had to play the guitar for the rehearsal.
"Okay Armaan since you are also going to be singing in the play, I want to hear you sing today" the director says as everyone settles down.
"Sure sir.. which song?" Armaan asks.
"Any song.. anything that fits your mood or anything you particularly like" the director says patting his back. "Oh and Rahul you will accompany him on the guitar." the director tells Rahul.
"Let me know which song Armaan" Rahul says sitting down and setting the guitar in his lap.
Closing his eyes Armaan's mind reverts back to the scene near the water fountain. Her always hurting him with her cruel words and expecting him to forgive her with a simple sorry.
"Well it's too late to apolizige Shilpa" Armaan mutters under his breath.
"Said something?" Rahul asks.
"Uh.. yeah I will be singing Apologize by Timbaland" Armaan whispers to Rahul.
I'm holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
Armaan sings looking down, while Rahul strums the guitar reminiscing Muskaan's cold rejection of his apology.
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say...
Looking up, Armaan stares into Shilpa's eyes; hers are frozen on his as she completely understands the reason behind him choosing this song. It is too late to apologize; I've messed up big time Rahul thinks to himself.
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
As tears run down his cheeks, Armaan continues to sing while Rahul shuts his eyes to control himself and continues strumming the guitar.
I'd take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothin new
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...
All the scenes flash through Shilpa's mind as she remembers each ont every time she had gotten mad at him for no fault of his and every time he had forgiven her, but not this time her mind tells her.
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
As much as Rahul tries to shake her thoughts out of his head he feels worse and worse and the guilt builds up in his chest.
Bridge (guitar/piano)
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
It's too late to apologize, yeah
Not wanting to hear anymore, Shilpa makes her way out of the studio silently and goes to the washroom. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now.
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah-
I'm holdin on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground...
Armaan finishes up and looks up to find her, but she's not there. Strumming the last few notes on the guitar, Rahul let's his hands fall and feels the lone drop making its way down his face.
Later, Muskaan headed to the acting studio with Sara. As she knew all of them are there and were busy as well. When she reached, Sara ran up to Armaan as she saw him after many days. And she made her way towards the locker room to put away her stuff. She found Shilpa leaning against her locker, staring at the ground.
"Hey Shilpa" Muskaan smiled walking up to her "Kya hua?" she asked.
"Hi Muski...kuch nahi..just tired" Shilpa replied "Where is Sara?"
"Armaan ke paas" Mukaan said and saw Shilpa's face dropping "If you need to talk, am there" Muskaan said and gave Shilpa a tight hug.
"Thanks Muskaan" Shilpa smiled "I have to go for rehearse for another part, I will talk to you later...and thanks again" saying that Shilpa exited the locker room.
Just then Rahul walked in. He stopped seeing Muskaan there, but he ignored her presence and went in to the changing room. Muskaan felt an unknown pain in her heart as she saw his expressionless face.
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"Almaan, you are sick na I will tell maasi to make you the magic soup...you will be fine after dlinking that" Sara said with an angelic smile.
"Magic soup? Lekin mujhey toh ice cream chahiye" Armaan grinned.
"Aley, if you tell maasi that...she will get angly and she won't let you play eithel" Sara pouted.
"She is very mean na" Armaan said.
"No no, she is not mean...she just cares" Sara smiled.
"Who told you that?" Armaan asked, shocked at her response.
"Maamu told me...I was sick na and maasi did not let me play, I told maamu that she is mean and maamu said she is not mean, she cares about me and loves me" Sara grinned.
"Princess" Shilpa called out and walked up to them "How are you doing?" She asked picking her up.
"Maasi am fine...but Almaan is sick" Sara pouted hugging Shilpa.
"He is fine see" Shilpa said pointing at Armaan.
"Make him that magic soup na pleash maasi" Sara requested.
"Am fine girl friend..." Armaan said ruffling Sara's hairs.
"No, you will come home with us for magic soup" Sara said holding his collars.
"Sara, bad manners...you can't force anyone" Shilpa said.
"Ok" Sara said sadly hiding her face with her tiny hands.
"I can't say no to my girl friend...I will come, happy?" Armaan took her in his arms.
"Yayyy thank you boyfriend" Sara kissed his cheeks "Maasi tell Muski toh come too na" she said.
"Ok, I will talk to her" Shilpa smiled and turned to go.
As she didn't have to work with the dance choreography yet, Muskaan wandered back to the dance studio. She just wanted some alone time, to think things through, to think about what she was doing.
"Alright this is a scene after the hero gets angry with the heroine and the heroine realizes her mistake and comes to seek an apology" the director briefs Armaan and Shilpa about the shot.
Armaan and Shilpa's eyes immediately shoot up at each other as they hear what has to happen in the scene.
"Angel you stay here, I will go get my guitar.. maine dance hall main chod diya usse" Rahul explains to Sara, as he would have to play his piece after Armaan and Shilpa practice their scene.
"Theek hai maamu.. I will play with my teddy" Sara says sitting down at the mini table.
Turning on the lights, Muskaan sees Rahul's guitar case lying against the side wall, she automatically feels herself getting pulled towards it as soon as she associates Rahul's name with it.
Picking it up, she carefully takes the guitar out of its case and holds it delicately in her hands.
"And.. Action!"
"Oh it's you again" Armaan says turning around as he hears some sound behind him "Came to break my heart again?" he asks coldly.
"No.." Shilpa continues looking downward "I have realized my mistake.. I'm sorry" she says.
"I don't need your valueless sorry.." he says turning his back to her.
"But.." she touches his shoulder.
"I don't want to hear anything from you!" he pulls his shoulder out of her grip roughly.
Strumming the guitar slowly, Muskaan closes her eyes taking in the soothing music emitting from the guitar.
She nearly drops the guitar as she feels two warm hands coming around her sides and holding the instrument with her, she didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
"Rahul.." she whispered as she felt his fingers rubbing over her own.
"Shh.. hold guitar tightly" he whispered in her ear, moving her hair aside slowly.
"You mean a lot to me.. you're my life" Shilpa said walking in front of Armaan and cupping his face in her hands such that he couldn't look away.
"I.." Armaan's speech is stopped as he feels Shilpa soft lips kissing every inch of his face, letting him know that she can't ever afford to lose him.
Tracing his lips down the exposed part of her back, Rahul lines kisses down her spine.
Clutching the guitar tightly, Muskaan arches her back slightly to give his better access.
Moving to the other shoulder, Rahul lines kisses down her arm while his hands reach under her shirt to caress her bare supple skin.
As Shilpa pulls back, Armaan notices her red eyes and her tear stricken face, raising his own hands he immediately wipes her tears and shakes his head indicating for her to not let her precious tears fall.
Moving forward Shilpa smacks her lips onto Armaan while moving her hands in his hair and pulling him closer.
"Raahul!!" Muskaan shouts slowly and lets the guitar go as she can't take it anymore.
Catching the guitar in his hands before it hits the floor, Rahul watches Muskaan spin around to face him in between his arms.
"Please.." she mumbles looking down. Moving his hands from around her, Rahul let's her go and Muskaan immediately rushes to her office and shuts the door tight.
"I can never be angry with you" Armaan whispers close to her lips, and with every movement of his lips, their lips brush against each other.
"Cut! That was perfectly done.. actually better than it was in the script" the director applauds them.
14