SS - Love Ego and Us - Last part pg 4. - Page 3

'' I fell in love with a girl as sweet as can be' why the lyrics did not soothe him much anymore, and yet that was the favourite line, 'as time goes by I probably will meet a girl and fall in love' how can you fall in love when you are already in love . Why was he not happy that arohi finally broke the ice, why even after she said yes they still fought. He was sure he saw tears in her eyes, but knowing her she wont like it if he sees them. He was still angry but he could not make up his mind at whom, arohi, himself or vivek. He was happy about one thing, that moron is out of picture.

Arohi was not like before either. Before whenever they fought she felt angry but not down, last time they had fought after his confession she felt down, but this time she felt miserable. Atleast till now there was hope that they will still meet everyday in college and just knowing that he is present made the pain less. Now when the exams are over, where will he go, what will he do, what plan was he talking about, where does he want to settle. What about her. Will she ever get over all this. Why did she not realize all these days that it was important to express the feelings genuinely. Why suddenly it all changed, was vivek really an anchor to her thoughts about arjun, so that they stay withheld deep down her heart and not come out like they did this morning. Arjun wont come back to her again. That thought made her hug the pillow tight. She went to her closet took out his letter , she had restricted herself from reading it, but had kept it safe. She read it again, ', I do need a distraction you know if I have to get rid of one habit I need to get into the habit of another, you do know what I mean right?' she never could become that distraction to his habit, is that why his habit had grown stronger. Why did their egos become so important that they even forgot to acknowledge the strong attraction even after all that had happened.

Sunday morning she got ready, they were supposed to meet at a friends place for her birthday party. She still had to buy a gift and a card. She hurriedly finished her daily chores, her study quota, ironed her clothes for all of next week, kept a beautiful white saree with silver thread work for the party. She just needs to find those pearl earrings and the string of pearls. Arjun could be there, she thought , last time she wore this saree next day she had gotten that letter, she smiled to herself, but now wearing this is just going to revive a sweet memory, she felt a strange connection to the lifeless saree and in that moment it became her most favourite one. When she was ready she looked gorgeous. Only change was earlier when she got dressed up she would admire herself in the mirror, now she hardly looked at herself, what is the point when she doesn't get his appreciative looks anymore.

She walked into Hallmark Gallery, she picked up a present and went to look for a card. Arjun too had come to the same place, He threw the almost finished cigerette and went in. He had not shaved and had combed his hair carelessly.. He was going to the party only because the friend had given an ultimatum, either come to the party or never talk to her again. He had showered quickly put on a pair of faded jeans and an old tee that he always wore when he is home. He was in no mood to check how he looked.

As he went in he could feel her presence that familiar perfume, he cant be mistaken. He saw her. Her back turned towards him. His heart felt that familiar pain again that had become part of him now. But seeing her clad in white saree the pain seemed to lessen slowly. Her crowning glory spread all over her back. Her perfectly curved slim waist lightly covered by the transparent white saree, isn't that what that had taken his senses away that day, he could get a glimpse of the pearls hanging from her ears. That means she was dressed exactly the same way she had dressed before. He got goosebumps, his heart fluttered, he knew she will be at the party but had not cared much earlier, now he was eager to see her face, did she put the same shade of lipstick like that day, she did not need any kajal, she did not use also. He was feeling an ache all over him to go and talk to her. He did not care how he looked. He slowly went near her and stood behind her.

She was busy checking cards, oblivious to who was behind her. She selected a birthday card and turned her attention to a set of different cards. 'for him' 'You are my life' 'with you I am complete' type of cards. He silently observed her. She picked up a card, 'Kiss a non-smoker and enjoy the difference' he saw a smile curving at the end of her lips, she looked like the earlier arohi, why did he not see that she too was miserable like him all these days, now seeing her all dressed up and attempting to smile and looking at the cards that could be meant for him, put him back where he was when he wrote that letter.

He held her by the arm and turned her around. She gasped at his sudden appearance, and quickly tried to hide the card behind her. 'show it' he said trying to grab it , 'its not for you' 'let me see' 'its for mona' 'really then who is this for' he showed the other card that was on the present. 'what is your point, it is my wish , I can'' 'and this is my wish' he said catching her hand tightly with one hand and with another hand he caught hold of the card she was holding behind her back. She had come in his embrace almost, he took the card and looked at it, 'what do you have in mind' he asked with naughty eyes, she was not in a mood to give any comeback answer, she forgot she was in a shop, the old arjun being back in front of her was enough. She rested her forehead lightly on his chest. He too felt a lump in his throat. He left her hand and held her by the waist, lightly put his hand on her right side curve over the saree, the card still in hand. Some one came thru the door, chiming the bells, both of them moved apart. He could see her cheeks were wet already, 'lets go from here' he said. He grabbed a bunch of flowers and put all the stuff to be billed. 'I will pay for mine' she said immediately. He did not even listen. He paid the bill grabbed her hand and walked out.

She had come in an auto, now they left on his bike. Slowly she looked at him, even in that shabby avtaar he looked handsome, the closeness of his body and the wind reaching her blowing past him bringing his body scent along with it made her to breathe deeply. When they reached the friends house. He kept all the things on the doorstep and before she could ring the bell. Took her hand and took to the side of the house that had a big compound wall. It was covered by a tree on one side and an extended wall on the other. It was a passage for just one person in the middle to go around the house. 'what are you doing' she said , 'shhh, we will go in later, first I want to do something that is pending' not giving her a chance to respond, he took her closer to him this time placing a firm grip on the left side of her waist, the saree layer that was covering had moved down making his hand rest on her bare smooth skin, her curve appeared to be made to fit his hand perfectly. It sent ripples through both of them. At the same time as he held her waist , he held the side of her face with his right hand and brought his lips on hers giving her a hard kiss for few secs and taking in her lower lip for next few secs. Biting it slightly as he released. She did not want him to leave it even though the lips never parted. Eyes half closed by the long lashes and the passion making the eyes shine, she saw him take in her lips again, making her open the mouth so the tongues can play together. It caused a burning sensation elsewhere deep down the bodies. The embrace tightned, and his hands caressed her waist, squeezing it. They were back to lips, turning the heads to opposite sides, savouring each new taste they got. She did not even realize he had smoked earlier. It did not have any significance at the moment, even his prickly facial hair did not bother, rather it was more sexy. They parted for a moment and again clung to each other kissing. He had now invaded her cheeks, ears and neck. Which caused her pallu to go down on the right side, what a treat, he almost made his way to the peeping mound, when she stopped him. She pulled his head away holding his hair, he made way to her lips again. After few secs they pulled away, eyes still focused on each other's lips, now smiling. They were still hugging. Then she noticed his hand still on her waist, she pulled herself away and set her saree right. She saw him watching her make the pallu allright, blushing she turned the other side 'we should go in' she said , he caught her from the back 'you look gorgeous you know, I want to take you somewhere where no one can disturb us' he had again started to play with the right side of her waist putting his hands under her pallu from across her stomach, kissing her neck. 'someone might see us now, arjun we should go in' she whispered. 'I don't want to' 'pleease' 'okay' he said, then pulling her close and still kissing her neck he whispered in her ears 'you know what this gave me' 'what' 'a chance to show u the difference of kissing a non smoker' 'now that you kissed a smoker, from tomorrow you will find that difference' he said kissing her again. She blushed before turning around to face him, to indulge in another passionate kiss. This was the chemistry they were fighting since the beginning. It was amazing, it was meant to be, it was natural. They were designed for each other.

Finally they went in. Their stuff was still on the door step. Laughing they picked them all up. He made her hair allright while she rang the bell and waited. The friend opened the door, her parents were not in, so she had the party at home. She saw them both standing together. She expected to see that cold , forlorn looks they both were giving for past few months. But what she saw was two radiant faces glowing brighter than gold, then she noticed they were holding hands. 'aaa' she screamed making all the others come behind her. 'omg omg omg' she said as arohi pierced thru the wall of friends and came in. Arjun too entered scratching the back of his head. The friends had given up on them. For them they were two akdu , ladaku, jiddi ppl among whom compromise or a future seemed almost nonexistent. They were too happy for them.

The friend made them both cut the cake along with her. There was no end to their teasing. If they knew what the love birds did before they came in, the teasing could have gotten worse. Arjun and arohi loved all the attention. Her friend asked arohi so that only arohi could hear 'why is ur bindi stuck on his neck?' arohi looked at arjun, she started making subtle signals, arjun could never get it, he thought she was making love signals, even the one where she hit her forehead looked romantic, he was happy she was expressing openly. Watching them play futile dumb charades , finally the friend said loudly 'arjun , give her bindi back' and got a big thump on her back from arohi 'ouch'. Arjun chuckled, oh so the signals were for this, they were not love signals, now why will he give it back when they were not romantic gestures. 'I don't give back anything that becomes mine once' 'ooo' cooed their friends. 'I am leaving' said arohi not able to take anymore of the teasing, the party had almost ended, so everyone were about to leave anyway. Arjun too got up 'me too' 'ooo abhi se joru ka gulam' some one remarked 'never' he said 'what?' arohi asked him back 'never will I be joru ka gulam' he said firmly 'let us see' she said in a challenging tone. 'let us see' he said following her out.

They have been married for a year now. They were back from their second honeymoon celebrating the first anniversary. They threw a party to their friends that weekend. Both of them working gave them little spare time on weekdays. They were planning to buy the flat they were living in. Nice area nice city nice jobs, and best companion, what more could they ask for, kids they were yet to plan. It had been a khatta meetha ride so far, loving, fighting, manofying, again loving, fighting. They took turns to cook, do chores, buy things, not becuase they wanted to make it seem they are equals but to help each other and share the life together on all counts. Days went by happily.

'Is it okay today?' he asked with hope in his eyes, ' how many times shld I tell you, I even marked on the calender, two more days' she would repeat, 'you are misleading me aren't you' 'oh god, I marked the date, u add 6 days to it and see' she said irritated. He dutifully did that, she was right 2 more days 'why do you mark on the calender it only ruins my hopes' 'so you don't bug me every few hours' just kidding she marked them for herself to keep track of the dates in case precaution failed she giggled thinking. 'do I bug you, let me show what real bugging is' he would catch her and make her plead so she can save the dal from burning. 'just a peekaboo night then' he resigned sighing. He could not keep his hands off her even for a day and these 6 days of having to do with incomplete act every month tested his patience. they enjoyed those nights as well. It just increased the passion. They loved each other deeply supported each other and still fought the same way they used to in college. Sometimes serious fights that carried on for days, that time who would apologize first was a big question. But somehow they would find a way and get cozy again. Soon they learnt the art of not apologizing and still reconciling. That was more passionate to them.

Family grew, two beautiful kids, growing fast , Career sometimes stagnant sometimes growing. Love never faded, nor did the chemistry. It was still the same. They were the most charming couple, and their love for each other was evident in every action of theirs.

'Then I'll get married have a wife and a child and they'll be my turtle doves' It was still his favourite song, listening to it he closed the book he was reading. Arohi was deep asleep, he bent down and kissed her cheeks 'I love you' he said, she replied me too with her smile still in deep sleep. This was his favorite smile of hers.

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