Raj is unable to say a word. Armaan glares accusingly at him. "Kyun….yeh sach hai na?"
Raj manages to find his voice. "Yaar….kya keh raha hai…..lagta hai tune bahut zyada pi li hai…." He lamely tries to laugh it off. But Armaan continues to stare mournfully at him.
Armaan: Raj……ye mere life or death ki baat hai….please mujhe sach-sach bataa de….please!
Raj looks at him for a long moment. Then he sighs and clasps his hand tightly around is glass.
"Haan….yeh sach hai….." he quietly nods.
Armaan gives a great shuddering sigh and turns his face away. Raj puts his hand on his shoulder.
Raj: Please Armaan, mujhe galat mat samajh…..yeh sach hai ki maine Jessica Bedi se pyaar kiya…..aur tab toh mujhe pata bhi nahin tha ki pyaar kya hota hai…issliye main Jassi ke liye tere pyaar ko kabhi samajh nahin paaya….maine hamesha uske chehre ki badsoorati dekhi, uske dil ki khoosurati nahin…..aur mere kehne par, tu uss khoosurat dil ko baar-baar todta raha…..mere kaaran tum dono ek doosre se alag hue…..issliye jab mujhe pata chala ki Jassi hi Jessica hai, toh mujhe ehsaas hua ki yeh ek tarah ka poetic justice hai….mere liye sabsi achchi sazza hai…..
Armaan: (tearfully) Lekin tune mujhe kuch bhi nahin bataya? Kyun? Mujh par vishwaas nahin tha kya?
Raj shakes his head vehemently. "Yeh baat nahin thi yaar…..main pehle hi tum dono ki life mein kaafi problems ceate kar chukka tha….main nahin chahta tha ki mere yeh bataane se tumhare beech phir koi misunderstanding ho jaye…."
Armaan gets up unsteadily and starts to stumble towards the door. Raj gets up and tries to stop him. "Kahan ja raha hai?"
Armu: Jassi ke paas….bahut der ho gayi ho……wo tension mein hogi…..mujhe uske paas jaana chahiye…..
But his legs cannot carry him and he nearly falls over. Raj grabs and steadies him; he carries him to the bedroom and makes him lie down. Murmuring "Jassi….Jassi….", Armu almost immediately falls asleep. Raj calls Jassi and tells her that Armaan will be spending the night at his place. Jassi puts the phone down in bewilderment. "Armaan ko yeh achanak kya ho gaya….?"
Then a thought hits her. "Kahin….kahin Armaan ne mere aur Beauty ki baatein toh nahin sun li?" She sits down jerkily on the bed. Her eyes are wide with anxiety.
The next morning, Raj gently shakes Armaan awake. "Uth……office jaana hai na?"
Armaan gets up groggily, taking a minute to get his bearings.
Raj: (shortly) Tere liye kapde nikaal diye hain, jaldi se ready ho ja.
There is no further talk and they drive to GM in silence, walking off to their respective cabins the moment they arrive.
The reserve between the two friends is contrasted by the vibes between Beauty and Nandu. Though they talk little, they are friendlier and smile frequently and shyly at each other throughout their time together.
It is nearing dark when Armaan drives back home. Ila greets him anxiously at the door.
"Kya baat hai Armaan beta….kal tum achanak Raj ke ghar chale gaye…..is everything all right? Tumhara aur Jassi ka koi jhagda toh nahin hua na?" Angel smirks in the background.
Armaan: (avoiding Ila's eyes) Nahin mom….aisa kuch nahin hai….bas, kale ek zaroori baat yaad aa gayi thi Raj se karne ke liye, issliye usske ghar chala gaya….aur phir bahut late ho gaya toh raat ko uske ghar hi stay kar liya….
Ila: Beta, agar koi baat ho, toh mujhse mat chupana…..I'm your mom, main agar tumhari problems nahin samjhungi toh kaun samjhega? (sighs slightly)…Ab jao…..Jassi tumhara kal se wait kar rahi hai…"
Armaan enters his room warily. Jassi is standing by the window in her nightclothes, her back to him. She turns around as he enters, a mute appeal in her eyes. Armaan stares back inscrutably.
They face each other across the room, neither saying a word.
Tomorrow: Francesca comes to GM.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
