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Enjoyy.
It was a quiet evening at home. Pankuri idly roamed the Dewaan mansion, taking in the beautiful molds and builds while savoring the peace and quiet. Avantika was at an office party and would not be home until later. Sheela Mami and Mama took this rare opportunity to go out on a date night together, giving their scheming minds a rest for once. Nana was at an old friend's house, catching up. He too would not be back home until late. Preeti mausi was around, quietly as always, not usually in anybody's business unless it became a big family matter. And Adi... well Pankuri actually had no idea where he was. Ever since the announcement of Latika and Adi's engagement, there became a sort of unspoken, invisible wall between them. The ease and comfort of their relationship was no longer there. The endless chatters disappeared, replaced with forced small talk. Pankuri couldn't decipher exactly how it happened or when, but it was there. Pankuri should be glad that Adi is engaged, after all it was her who tried to set them together again but deep down whether she would ever admit it or not, she always thought Adi wouldn't go through with it. Happiness is far from her feelings right now, replaced with a big empty hole, where Adi's laughter use to be. She missed him. God, she missed him with all her might. Maybe it was good she doesn't see Adi now days in a way. She knows now that if she really sees him, she won't be able to stop herself. Stop herself from falling for him. Falling.. Crashing..
Maybe it was her thoughts of Adi that caused her to stop by his favorite area of the house. A lounge almost isolated from the entire mansion. It was a peaceful area, spacious, but also very intimate at the same time. The lounge also was the home to Adi's most prized possession.. his drum set. The room and drums both evoked strong emotions from Pankuri. Adi would sneak Pankuri to the lounge countless times. It was when they had kept their friendship a secret, during the time when Adi had promised Avantika that he would stay away from Pankuri. He was successful for none of but a day. At late night a frustrated Adi had dragged Pankuri out in the heavy Mumbai rain to meet her and talk to her. Thinking of that moment brought a smile to her face. She still remembers how she felt the entire day. She felt wrong, off all day because of Adi's strange behavior. She constantly scolded herself for maybe unknowingly doing something wrong. Then scolded herself AGAIN for thinking of Adi so much, and that was only a day. Pankuri smile broadened thinking of that day and night, especially night. Frustrated Adi, frustrated Pankuri.. and the frustrating rain. Oh how they got drenched, but that didn't matter, none of it matter when Adi was with her. Now.. coming back to the present she realizes it's been two weeks since their friendship took a cold turn. Returning from the sweet, fond memories, the cold, empty feeling inside of her took place again. Wanting to remove the negative emotions, she took a step closer to the drums. Soon she was lost in another memory, while running her hands across the beautiful drum set. This memory was from Neha's sangeet, before her and Adi's friendship really begun. The drummers hired for the sangeet refused to play during Pankuri's performace so Adi took over. His beat synchronized perfectly with her dance. He played, she danced, he played and she danced. It was as if her dance was made for Adi's beats. Although she has not admitted to anyone before, in fact hesitating to admit it even to herself but she cherished that moment. It was magical, two people joining together to create something so beautiful. No matter what happens with her and Adi in the future, she will always hold that moment close to her heart. Without realizing how she got there, she soon found herself in front of the drums perhaps wanting to relive the memory, feel close to him again. She tentatively took a seat, reaching out for the drumsticks that lay on top.
**********
What a boring evening Adi thought to himself. He was out with Latika at her friend's party. He use to love parties but today, he just wasn't in the mood. He also didn't know anyone and was frankly a bit irritated that Latika had dragged him here.
" Well.. She is going to be my wife soon, he thought so rationally... So I guess I should get use her friends also..."
He was putting in an effort to mingle, trying to have a conversation with one of Latika's friend but found it so irritating that while he is trying to talk, her friend is texting away, not giving her full attention to him!
"Excuse me!? What is wrong with you?! I am trying to talk to you and you are busy with your phone! If you don't want to socialize, then why are you here?"
Latika approached Adi when she hears him yelling and asked him what's wrong.
" Kya hogia hain tumhe?! Why are you shouting at my friends? Everyone is using their phones, we're the new generation! You use to be like that to, and now you're yelling because of it?!"
"I didn't realize how rude it is until Pank--until someone mentioned it to me.." He trails off his memories instantly going to Pankuri.
Pankuri. Just thinking of her elicits such strong turmoil of emotions from him. Guilt, agony, longing.
He feels guilty because they both know their friendship is not the same anymore and somewhere he knows that he is at fault. There is this unspoken rift between them. He knows he surprised Pankuri, everyone actually, when he agreed to marry Latika. But honestly, he is a little surprised himself at Pankuri's behavior. She was the one who originally wanted them to get together again, and now when he agreed, she seemed almost... hurt. Her words do not match the emotions in her eyes. Hell, she won't even make eye contact anymore! It's as if she's hiding something.
He agreed to this marriage because like before, it would be the most convenient thing but most of all because his mom would be thrilled. Seeing the joy in his mother's eyes that he caused when he agreed was something Adi's been yearning to see ever since he was a child. While Adi was growing up, he was almost never around his mother. Came only for holidays and even then she was never around. She was always so busy being everyone's boss she didn't have time to be a mother. Adi strived to make his mother happy and proud but it seemed like she was never around for her to give him a chance to achieve that. So now when he got a chance to make her happy, he didn't want to lose that chance. And Latika is a nice girl; modern, sociable, independent. Yet somehow, for some reason still unknown to him, he could not stop himself from thinking about Pankuri...
Whenever he couldn't keep his mind occupied, his thoughts would wander over to her, wondering how she is doing, does she miss him like he misses her? And he does miss her alright, he misses her so much his heart aches. It's a weird sensation, he cannot really understand why. He has never felt this alone and lost before. He knows he has friends to talk to, a fianc, Latika who is constantly creating havoc on his phone, wanting to talk to him, but he's just not into it. He receives her calls with obligations, but the yearning for company isn't satiated. The one person he wants to talk to, he cannot. How did this weirdness even begin?
With his thoughts fully on Pankuri and the ache in his heart growing stronger and stronger, he decides he's had enough of this stupid party. Every bit of the scene starts to irk him, pricking him the wrong way.
"Latika, muhje jaana hain. Tumhe ana hain to auo varna mein jaa raha hoon." He didn't even give her a chance to respond before stormed out. He hoped some fresh air and change in scene will calm his nerves.
Adi decided to take solace from the tormenting emotions, and retire to his favorite place for some peace and quiet where he could think and maybe straighten out the turbulence of emotions; his favorite place, the lounge upstairs, a calming, sort of remote area.
Little does he know, this night has something else in store for him. Calm and quiet is the farthest thing he's about to get...
As he approaches the lounge, he stops dead in his tracks. There, sitting in front of his drum sets is the most strikingly beautiful girl he has ever come across. The girl who has fully invaded his thoughts, the girl he cannot stop thinking about: Pankuri. He uses this unexpected, rare opportunity to just gaze at her, his previous irritations, Latika, all of it erased from his mind, focused only on this beauty in front of him.
********
Pankuri hesitantly picks up Adi's drumsticks and tries to give it a shot... imitating the moves Adi had done. She feels silly because she has no idea what she is doing. Her musical talents do not go beyond picking up the drumsticks.
One minute she thinks she's alone and when all of a sudden, Pankuri feels a pair of warm hands enclose around her own delicate hands and an intoxicating fragrant consuming her all around. Adi. That smell... those warm hard hands... all creating havoc on her senses.
*******
Before Adi could fully grasp his actions, he found himself across the room, to where Pankuri's sitting, and guides her with her clumsy movements. He slowly leans down behind her putting his arms on either sides of her to enclose his hands around hers, help her grip the drumsticks correctly.
"Aaise Pankuri" he breathes in her ears. Shocked, big brown eyes look up at him, slowly embarrassment taking over in them.
"Voh.. Adi.. mein.. voh mein baas.." she starts stuttering.. Adi laughs softly and reassuring her
It's okay Pankuri.. By the way, you are terrible at the drums." He teases. "Would you like to actually play?"
He leans in towards her more and guides Pankuri's hands along while he plays the drums, in a perfect rhythm, filling the room with beautiful noise.
**********
After what seems like an eternity of playing they finally stop.
Pankuri could feel Adi's warm breathes on her, they were that close. He is breathing heavily from playing. And that invigorating smell... if she could, she would bottle up the smell in a perfume case and keep it close to her forever.
Although the music stopped long ago, the loud beat of their hearts filled the entire room. Their eyes locked, taking in what they missed for so long.
Adi, at this point is no longer aware of his actions, moves closer, while at the same time judging Pankuri's reactions. Noting that she has not retaliated at his advance, he moves in closer and closer filling the little gap between them. His actions are no longer in control, but fully taken over by an inner force, an inner yearning. Closer and closer they move until their lips meet forcefully.
With that unity, they've left the world. They soar high, high and away, not feeling anything except their lips on each other. Adi could taste the sweetness of her gloss, pulling them deeper into the kiss. He didn't care about anything, not caring or making out any rationality to his actions only wondering why they haven't done this before... Hell why have they been avoiding each other for so long? What could possibly be such a good reason to stay away from this intoxicating state? Whose idea was it t-- Latika.
BAM.
With one word Adi came crashing down. Instantly the earlier evening, Latika, the conflicting feelings between him and Pankuri, the engagement came colliding into him. Latika.. engagement.. With that final thought looming over, he broke apart from Pankuri; breaking apart from that sweet, sweet embrace, causing him to feel as if he's been thrown out into the cold. He wanted to go back into the warmth.. the sweet warmth..
No.. he couldn't.. this is wrong..
"I'm sorry Pankuri...I'm sorry.." With every ounce of control he could muster up, he pulled himself away from her and backed out, running out..leaving the room, leaving Pankuri.
And Pankuri...her resilient attitude towards Adi faltered... she was falling.. falling, crashing to the ground breaking to pieces.. There's no going back now..
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
Shiv Shakti
