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Chapter 18
"Give me five minutes" She turned startled at him ".. ye sab.." He pointed to the locker.
"Main bahar wait kar rahi hu..." She nodded happily.
Arjun thought something and quickly locked everything, picked his mobile, car keys and then switched off the lights. He didn't want to make her wait. Roshni was impatiently waiting for him leaning against the SUV. He saw Arjun getting down the stairs and straightened herself up quickly. Arjun gestured her to get inside and opened the door for her. She smiled and took her place. Arjun took the driver seat and started the SUV.
It was all about silent talks once again... Arjun liked it this way only... He was wondering what should he talk about that sounds more like a friend and not... you know... He was a bit confused. His mind was at peace just with the thought that kids have Roshni by their side... he was happy at the moment with this much progress in their life...
But Roshni, she wanted to talk... Why should she be silent? He is just a human being... and come on! She simply needs to start a conversation... when did that become so difficult for her...it was just that she didn't know him so well, and then he looked serious always so she was just wondering how to start.
"Sir kuch bolte hi nhi... kaise baat karu..." She thought to herself.
She again looked at him and Arjun noticed it... again. He got what was going on in Roshni's mind instantly. He smiled thinking how tough it would be for her to keep quiet for so long... Just stealing glances and occasional passing of smiles...
"Tum kuch kehna chahti ho?" He looked sideways at her.
"Haan?..." She surprised looked at him and blinked her eyes. He raised his eyebrows as if asking again... "Haan..." She gulped "... wo ice cream... Gia ne kaha tha ice cream... toh wahi... ice cream... wahi kehna tha bas..." She smiled and tucked her hairs behind her ears nervously looking in a different direction.
He smiled observing that confused look on her face "Ice cream haan! Lekin hum ice cream nhi lenge..." When Roshni looked at him confused, he replied "Gia dinner k baad hi khaane ki zidd karegi... aur raat me ice cream khaane se use aksar sardi ho jaati hai..."
"Lekin maine toh Gia ko... Accha... toh fir chocolates?"
Arjun smiled and nodded his head. He knew it was going to come. Amidst this, Roshni noticed a small cut just above his left eye. She remembered she only gave it. She had hit him with that torch that day when they were in that dark room in that den.
"Aapne iska kuch kiya nhi?" She touched her for head just above the left eye to show him. Arjun touched his face and felt that cut "Nhi... ye toh theek hai... itna khaas badha nhi tha..." He shrugged that off.
"Sorry... wo us din andhera itna tha na... mujhe uske baad aapse poochna chahiye tha lekin maine... " She apologetically looked at him.
"That's ok!... Us din toh main b...[sigh] mujhe b aisa nhi karna chahiye tha..." He loosened and tightened his left hand grip on the steering wheel. It was clear that he was still frustrated with his behavior that day. Roshni noticed the scar on his left hand that he got while hitting that glass.
"Aur ye wala? Ye... theek hai ab...?"
Arjun didn't reply and she understood that he didn't want to talk about it. He stopped the car near a market area and quickly got down.
Roshni : "Main b..."
Arjun : "Nhi... tum baitho, main laata hu... "
But Roshni toh... well, Roshni hai... she quickly got down and stood just behind him "Do extra lijiyega... please"
Arjun turned and saw Roshni cutely smiling at him. He turned to the shopkeeper and signaled for two more.
***
On the way back to home
Roshni tore the wrapper and quickly took a bite, relishing the taste and licking her fingers... she was a bit hungry and well, chocolate was something that always tempted her. Arjun was familiar with her habits and had already bought some for her, and then some more when being asked by her. He didn't disturb her while eating... Roshni also noticed after a while that she didn't ask him...
"Aap lenge?" She held out one in front of him.
"Nhi...main... I don't..."
"What! Don't tell me aapko chocolates nhi pasand?" Arjun just smiles at that "Matlab aapko sach me nhi pasand!... " Her eyes widened and then again came to its normal form "Tabhiii..."
"Tabhi...Tabhi what?" Arjun raised his eyebrows.
"Kuch nhi..." She turned to the other side but by then Arjun had seen that naughty glint in her eyes and observed that half-suppressed chuckle.
"Nhi! Bolo! Tabhi kya?"
"Well, Chocolates khane wale log sweet hote hai... " She spoke while munching another one "Mujhe dekhiye... aur Shree, Aisha... [as if remembering something] aur Chotu... wo toh bechara kitna zyada sweet hai..."
Arjun, who was listening to her very attentively, couldn't help but laugh at that. Roshni admiringly looked at him and smiled "Aapki smile itni acchi hai toh aap itna kam smile kyu karte hai? I am sure Anika ko b pehle aapki smile pasand aayi hogi aur baad me aap. Hai na?" She smilingly looked at him.
Arjun didn't know what to reply. He was wondering whether he should say a yes or a no or just... It was tough. He realized they have reached home and stopped the car nearby. He gestured her to get down. Roshni confused looked at him seeing him all silent "Aap hamesha itna hi kam bolte hai? Ya fir aap abhi b..."
"Hmmm?"
Roshni took a deep breath "Sir, main... mujhe kuch kehna hai sir... " He just looked at her but she didn't wait for his reply "Hum pehle jab b mile na... toh aap ya to mujh par gussa hote the... ya fir meri kisi baat se disagree karte the... fir baad me...Baad me mujhe gussa aata tha... ki aapko gussa kyu aa raha hai... I mean sab itna... itna ajeeb tha... aur ..."
She didn't complete and looked at him. It was clear that she was also confused with the sudden change of equations around her and then Arjun was not opening up. She just turned to the door and opened it to get down, but before she could do that...
"Roshni!"
She stopped and felt his hand over hers. She turned to look at him and then her gaze slowly travelled to her hand. Arjun took his hand back and then looked at her. He could feel how she was struggling with her thoughts and now he needed to make things easier for her. They got down from the car and were walking on the pathway to home.
"Sab kuch theek hai Roshni... Agar tum iss baat ko lekar itna tense ho rahi ho ki pehle main tumhara senior tha, fir Anika's... and now a friend... Toh main ye bata du ki... uhh I mean pehle b ... I mean tumhare accident se pehle b toh... v were good... sab sahi tha, normal tha, so u really don't need to worry about that please... Tum pehle jaise mujhe kuch b bol deti thi, u still have that right ok... so please... just... "
Arjun, with a lot of difficulties and stammering, lied to her about their friendship before her accident. It was difficult and he felt guilty also for involving late Anika in this but he was helpless.
Roshni on the other hand, felt a bit relieved and grinned hearing him. However, she had some questions for him.
"Lekin fir mere accident k baad aap hamesha itna..."
"...gussa kyu rehta tha... kyuki... well I was just... dekho jab mujhe pata hai ki something is going to hurt you... toh u know ... I mean being a second in command har team member ki safety ensure karna chahta tha bas... I never realized that it bothers you so much toh ab se nhi karunga..."
"Arre aap log andar b aao!" Gia shouted from the door.
Roshni looked at Gia who was impatiently waiting for them at the door. She looked at Arjun with a sad look... it seemed she was enjoying talking to him. He was sweet, he was caring... but he just don't want to share this secret with anyone else.
Arjun looked at Gia, and then handed that polybag to Roshni "Hmm ye lo..."
"Nhi aap dijiyega..." She instantly pushed it back to him.
"Ab jisne promise kiya hai wahi de to accha lagta hai..."
"Nhi...uhh... aap ko kaise..." She surprisingly looked at him but then saw a slight smile on his face and realized that he knew about her and Gia's convo in the morning all along.
"I don't think you need chocolates" She smiled and then quickly whispered to Arjun "Chocolates k bare me Gia ko nhi batayenge... baad me surprise denge..." and then rushed to Gia "Coming baby!"
Arjun smiled seeing her and then moved inside the house.
***
Rathor was sitting on the couch watching some News Channel. He saw Gia and Roshni coming inside... Gia was trying to peep in the bag but Roshni was not letting her do that and was swinging it in the air. Arjun came and sat near him but his gaze didn't move from Roshni and Gia.
"Long route le kar aaya kya?" Rathor grinned.
"Shut up Sam!" He smiled slightly.
"Everythings ok? I mean Roshni k saath..."
"Hmm" He smiled "Thanks tum use mere saath aane k liye..."
"Nhi humne nhi... Shree bata rha tha ki she herself wanted to come with you..."
Arjun smiled hearing that and looked again at her. Things were getting better gradually. Roshni was happy, Gia was happy... Tani Tashi... well they were too young to understand the complicated situation
"Hum parso wapas ja rahe hai."
"Itni jaldi?"
"Jaldi! Hum schedule se peeche chal rahe hai... jaldi hi upar se phone aa jayega aur jawaab mujhe dena hoga... "
"Theek hai! Main Gia ko bol dunga... lekin waha... I mean Gia ka school... akele kaise handle karunga..."
Rathor and Arjun both playfully smile looking at each other and then think of something.
***
Edited by ..PriyaB.. - 11 years ago
Cricket
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
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