Dev woke from his sleep, with a sweet fragrance of agarbathi in air. He took a moment to realise where he was, he came to Vrindavan , for what to meet Mrinalini. Dev snorted at the thought, its what he said to others, before dragging Rohan here but in truth he came here to meet Radhika, fully knowing Radhika was here in Vrindavan in Mrinalini's house.But in truth he said some thing else to every one including Rohan, however he suspect Rohan fully believed him. Dev very much snorted at the thought of his brother knowing why he was here. But why he came here for Radhika, Right he missed her. And why the hell did he missed her, he had no idea to be true to himself. Dev thought for a while and then left down when he felt the fragrance of Agarbathi . Down he can see himself some one decorating the temple area with flowers taking help from Mrinalini, she was wearing a Blue saree with her hanging over her left shoulder to front, giving him a beautiful view of her back. He stood there looking when finally both she and Mrinalini completed their decorations and Mrinalini handled the aarthi plate to other girl. She hesitated a minute, Dev frowned and then she took it from her and thats when it struck him. She started to sing, the very song which drawed Mrinalini to her. Radhika, Dev felt the shock of his life, he never saw this side of Radhika, he knows Radhika do believe in god and devoted. But never did he expected the Tom Boyish Radhika to come here in a complete Indian traditional outfit. Dev can't help but get lost in that voice... truly the girl herself denies many times that she was a very bad singer, but she enjoys her song which adds beauty to what ever she sings. But then he frowned when he heard a tint of sadness in her song... The wording was "Main Radhe tu Krishna.." He can't help but wonder why she felt sadness at that line, he looked around and saw others who arrived didn't notice it. He looked beside him to see Rohan who was looking Radhika with surprise, who won't be surprised when they find a very different Radhika here from the courageous, brave and bold Radhika they see in college. He scowled to himself when he remembered their quarrel the previous night, and looked at the girl, as she completed the song and was distributing prasad to every one. When she came to him, she didn't raise her head, just forwarded the plate and stood silent. He whispered " Prasad should be given to hand, if you forget so Miss.Bharadwaj" She raised her head to look at him, he frowned for a minute he saw hurt ? or is it anger in her eyes? Any way before he ponder over, she handles him a laddo, and moved on.
Rohan smiled, "I never know you can be like this too Miss.Bharadwaj"
Radhika's eyebrow raised a bit " And what do you mean by this Mr.Purohith?"
Rohan smoothly answered " I mean, I never expected the very ferocious, bold,courageous Radhika Bharadwaj, to be so traditional, may I say... womanish"
Radhika sighed " If so then you mistaken me Mr.Purohith, I might be outspoken, but I am very much woman as I am. I don't have any defects. And for the gods sake please do try to remember that every girl who is outspoken is not a Tom Boy, nor a perfect girl is one who always shy's and smiles. " Though Rohan nodded, he didn't understand if it was directed towards him or his brother.
Rohan smirked " Apparently very satisfying answer indeed Miss.Bharadwaj. I need to speak on it with you, are you free now?"
Radhika thought for a while "Apparently, I have still people to distribute prasad, may be after this work, I will come to your work"
Rohan nodded, "But may I ask whom"
Radhika answered with simple shrug " Its Mrinu's Grandmother"
Mrinalini came behind her " Radhu, I heard you talking about Dadima"
Radhika nodded " I want to give her Aarthi"
Mrinalini concernedly glanced at her "Radhika, she will be in a fair amount of foul mood during mornings"
Just then they heard a shout from up " Hey Mohini, how many times shall I warn you not to play that song. Are you insane or what?"
Mrinalini sighed, while Mohini looked confused "What did I do mom, gran was shouting on me"
Radhika smiled " I think I understood what her problem was, wait" Sayingthat with out waiting for answer she rushed up stairs as if she know the way to go, before mrinalini tried to stop her. She put her head in her hands "Its going to be my hell"
Sumithra came beside Mrinalini "Don't worry, nothing drastic will happen"
Vivek sighed " I don't want dadima to fear thinking she saw a ghost"
Mrinalini truly looked worried , her face showed her age " What if the situation gets worse."
Vivek put an arm around her " Don't worry , nothing such sort will happen. Kanha won't let it happen"
Dev, Rohan watched the exchange with confusion, and they turned to Mohini for answer but she was equally confused "Mohini?"
Mohini turned to them " Don't ask me." saying that she dragged them to side and whispered " I long ago stopped going to my grand bedroom, she had nothing but to talk about my dead chacha and mousi. I am tired of listening that, that five years back I stopped going into her room. And No, she won't be effected unless its related to either of them." Mohini snapped as if she realised some thing " I forgot, the song, its Massi's. May be that triggered Dadi, but what hell does Radhika is doing upstairs. "
Then they suddenly saw a vision which they never considered possible, An old woman came down the stairs taking support from confused Radhika. The woman looked so happy, yet confused and it was like Radhika was holding her from running down. Mohini gasped "Gran!"
Mrinalini who noticed Mohini's gasp turned around and saw Dadima coming down and practically rushed to her "Dadima!"
Sharada looked at Mrinalii " Mrinalini! ye ladki?"
Mrinalini looked at Radhika who was confused "Radhika, hows this happened"
Radhika looked at her blankly " I don't know, I went up to her room, to explain her that Mohini di didn't keep any cassette, it was my fault to sing that song and apologise, but when she saw me at door way she gasped and woke up from her bed to come to me. I can't understand how she got over her paralysis, but she was staggering a bit, but was moving with more speed than she should. So I hold her and brought her down"
Sharada who heard her asked again "Mrinalini, tum ye ladki ko Radhika kyun bhula rahe ho"
Mrinalini looked at Sharada and said "Dadima, she's Radhika Bharadwaj . Vo delhi mein humari padosi hain. Vrindavan dekhne ke liye humare saath aayi hain yaha. Kuch din yahi rahegi humare saath"
Sharada nodded understanding the inner meaning, she then hugged Mrinalini, who had tears in her eyes "I missed you a lot dadima"
She released her and then looked at Vivek, who was standing beside and he happily hugged her crying... She silently kissed him on fore head " Mohan, Raju,Devki,Vaishali sab kaise hain"
Vivek silently answered " They all are fine Dadi"
She then asked again " Aur, doctors ne, tere Ammaji ke baarein mein kya kaha"
Seeing a silent Vivek she understood answer, then she turned back to Radhika and silently asked her " To tum Radhika ho"
She nodded " Radhika Bharadwaj"
Sharada stared at her for a second " What are you studying?"
Radhika answered " MBBS"
"Did you sing that song?"
Radhika nodded unsure " Er' I am sorry, if I hurt you. I mean its your Grand daughters song, I am really sorry if I hurt you. But I truly like that song a lot, and its meaning, " Radhika looked lost in trance, from which she immediately got her self out " If you want to punish me, I am ready to take it"
Dev who all the time standing at door side blinked , Radhika asking for punishment, actually she was apologising for such a trivial thing. Why? . Is she mad? . He heard Sumithra sighing beside him and looked at her, she looked all of it with a bit sad ness, well its a mixture of sad,hope and fear. But he doesn't understand why she should fear like that. He turned back to look at the woman who was now staring at him, Why was he feeling familiar to her ,he tried to shrug off all the weird thoughts he was getting since he came there , and went near her to take her blessings. He can picturize a shocked Rohans face, he doesn't care, he want to take her blessings, why he even doesn't know. She looked at him strangely and back to mrinalini "Care to explain Mrinu?"
Mrinalini carefully explaines " Dadi, he is Dev, actually vo aapko Rohith chacha ji maloom hain na, vuski beta Harinath ji ka bada beta hain ye, vo Rohan hain, Harinath ji ka doosra beta"
Dadima nodded and looked back to Dev " Aapki daadji mere devar ji ka beta hain matlab Mrinalini teri Badi maa hain"
Dev nodded a bit un sure. She stared at him for a while , Mrinalini interjected " Dev and Rohan donom MBBS pad rahe hain, Mohini ki college mein"
Dadima looked at Dev " Tum Vrindavan kisliye aaye ho"
Dev looked at her and said " Papa ne mujhse yaha ki mahanth ji se milne ko kaha tha. Isliye aaya hoon"
Dadima murmured to herself "I need to speak with Hari and also Mahanth ji. This is not right time."
Radhika tried to talk to Vivek a bit, which Rohan noticed " Miss.Bharadwaj, how ever enthusiastic, you are to speak, let their family cope up a bit"
She looked at him and sighed " I know, how they are feeling. I want to speak because,I need to tell them that she needs rest. She was on chair for some years. And it won't do good for her to stand all of a sudden for hours. Her legs need to cope up a bit."
Rohan thought for a while " You are saying right Miss.Bharadwaj"
Radhika looked at him as if he was lost "Thanks for your approval Mr.Purohith. Any way, if you complete your approval protocol, I have a person there to give some precautions"
Radhika moved to Mrinalini and instructed her on some basic things and told her to take Sharada to rest, before when she turned to Vivek " Uncle, I am sorry to disturb but I am leaving today. My friend got an accident"
Its Sumithra who looked up " Radhu, koun"
Radhika sighed "Rishu mammu"
Dadima frowned "Rishu? Is baar kis wajah se"
Radhika dismissed "Probably some accident, you know about him"
Sumithra nodded "As usual. Maddy knows it?"
Radhika shook her head in no
Mrinalini who just then came down "Kya hua?"
Radhika told her "Meri dost hain Rishu, vusko accident hua. And If I doesn't go, my sweet, stupid prat of a friend will probably kill me so I am leaving.Dadi is not coming, she was staying for pooja"
Mrinalini curiously asked her " Where will you stay?"
Radhika rolled her eyes "Probably in Rishu's house. He won't let me leave in any other way"
Mrinalini and Vivek shared a look, while Radhika hugged Sumithra " I am leaving mammu, Will call you in evening. Take care"
Dadima nodded "Give that prat some scoldings from me"
Radhika nodded , and Dev asked her " How will you leave, in Bus alone?"
Radhika laughed " No way, its Rishu we are talking about. Already there's a car out side waiting for me. He will take no such chances"
Saying that she left.
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Radhika hugged the handsome teen, hapily " I missed you a lot rishu"
Rishu or better say Rishab Kundra aka RK, looked at her smirking " i missed you too, my dear sweet saali"
Radhika laughed " Probably, i still can't understand, how does the prat of you made my strict di love you"
Rishab made an innocent face " me Prat!, No sweet little girl probably you should not utter such words. I am completely innocent"
Radhika made a face " You innocent, I will have a field day, if that was true. See how many articles they write on you. I still can't understand, how di doesn't bother with all of them"
RK smiled " That has a name called Love, my sweet darling. Any way thats between me and your didu. You stop whining, I have a surprise for you"
Radhika's eyes lit up like a puppy " Whats that "
RK smirked " Me Dr.Rishab Kundra is entering as a PG into your college, and gracing my presence to you people"
Radhika made a happy squeal "Thats great man, Finally we both came together again."
RK laughed, Radhika turned somber " But still I have one more month to meet you in college"
RK looked at her " Little dear, what if I say, I already have a one month full trip schedule in my bag accommodating both you and Dadima, as soon as she return we will leave"
Radhika smiled to him
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After one month...
Radhika was sitting at her favourite place , enjoying the much missed college atmosphere. She was listening to songs in her mobile, when one RK came beside her and sat. "What are you thinking little dear"
Radhika shook her head " Nothing actually, just enjoying the scenary"
Not minding he took one of the ear piece and started to listen the song as well, and they both started to hum it . After some time they both smiled and Radhika looked at him " I am sorry, you are a renowned singer, and I am singing with you. Forgive me Rishu"
He looked at her angrily " Stupid, I love your songs a lot. Never say like that"
Radhika mock bowed to him "Oh Thank you your majesty"
He laughed. Radhika noticed people looking strangely at them " I heard many things?"
RK looked at her with curiosity " Shoot it"
Radhika sat beside him, ignoring the looks of others and kept in a low voice " People are telling many things, like you are frightening seniors. And No one even dare to talk with you. Whats all this?"
RK made an annoying face " What shall I do, they practically tried to seduce me Radhs, its like they think I will fall for them if they sweet talk with me, as if I am a Casanova. Thats why I took that Angry image, to protect my self"
Radhika shook her head, taking a slice from his box " Any way, so whats up, why you came here"
RK looked at her " I want you to sing"
Radhika smiled " You can rather ask me directly, whats going on in my mind"
"ANd you wouldn't answer"
"No"
"Thats why sing any song"
Radhika nodded and started to sing " Meri yaadon mein teri fiqr sataa...
Meri baaton mein teri ziqr sataa...
Main Jo bhi hoon tum hi to ho..
Mujhe tum se mili apni adaa..
Kyun ki tum hi ho, ab tum hi ho
Zindagi ab tum hi ho...
Chain bhi, mera drad bhi
Meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho"
She opened her eyes when she heard another voice, and she felt surprised her self, she very well know how popular RK was as a rock star. She met him 4 years back, even before he was a rockstar as Madhu's boy friend. She practically adored that couple, always they understand each other . She like that couple a lot. She also likes RK's singing skills, and also he was very tough to please, in all these years never once did he compliment her for singing. She know it was very tough to please him, but indeed that was her goal to make him say that she sang good. Today he practically joined her in song, it can't get any much good. She continued to listen to him as he sung it
"Tere liye , hi jiya mein ne...
They both grinned after some time, and finally hi-fied. Radhika smiled genuinely "Got you, finally you acknowledged my song"
RK raised his eyebrow and smirked , Radhika shook her head " Stop that personality , it won't work with me. "
RK smiled " I know , but there are people looking at us, now can't give away my persona can I. I have a reputation to keep"
Radhika shook her head, and stood up, then bowed to him in opera model. "Thanks for acknowledging your presence My Lord"
RK too stood up and smirking took her hand kissing the knuckles "Thanks for gracing me you wonderful presence MiLady"
Radhika laughed, "Now Now Dr. Rishab Kundra,I have a persona to keep. So don't over smother me. Let me go" He smiled and they both started to go in opposite directions.
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Radhika was walking very fast, she can't be slow and cope up with all the meaning less questions asked by their classmates regarding her and RK, but then she spotted Bharka coming towards running. She sighed mentally, and slowed down waiting for her to catch up .
Radhika and Bharka did came into a friendly truce exactly a week before the start of college and Radhika doesn't want to get into Bharka's bad books, there fore agreed on her part too. Bharka as usual hung her hand loosely around Radhika's shoulder, which though annoyed Radhika, she remained silent. "Hey Bharka"
"Radhu! You know RK and you doesn't even bother to tell me"
Radhika looked at her " Whats there to tell about him? I didn't felt thats necessary Bharka"
Bharka looked at her as if she was seeing an idiot " Its RK, Radhu. One of the famous singers, whole college fawns over him. "
Radhika shrugged "In order to talk to you of him, I should know about him. Its kinda like we are acquaintances"
Bharka nodded "How did you first meet him?"
Radhika gave a sigh " Look, you know I don't remember such trivial matters. So truly I doesn't remember. And can we move on to any other topic, Its kinda annoying when every one bombards me questions on that person, when he clearly ragged me."
Bharka looked at her "If getting a kiss on hand from RK means ragging, half of college will happily oblige it."
Radhika rolled her eyes " That's a kind of English gesture to show respect to the woman you are talking to. Anyway leave it off"
Bharka looked at her "But..."
Radhika stopped her " I never thought you as much of a fan girl"
Bharka nodded her head in no "No I amn't but we have to acknowledge best, and I wish to sing with him for once. I mean he is afterall best"
Radhika looked at Bharka " But will he sing with you. I mean he worked with some of the best females singers in the country despite of his age, and its rather foolish of us to expect praises for our singing. It will like a physics student expecting Newton to bow to him"
Bharka shrugged "May be you can't, but I think I can Radhika. Afterall, al of our colleagues like my singing"
Radhika smiled, if any one knew how it is to get acceptance from RK its her, not that she's bad. She knew very well she was good, but that man never easily agree, how much good. Often Madhu ends up complaining her about RK spending his free time with her bickering about how bad a singer his co-singer was. She can count how many people he agreed as better singers on hand. Now Bharka is going to have a serious stab to her pride and Radhika grinned inward at thought, it will be a field day for her self.
After some time Bharka again asked Radhika " So how is my boyfriend?"
Radhika looked at Bharka blankly, though she had an idea of what Bharka is asking, she doesn't wanna acknowledge it to her self " Your Boy Friend?"
Bharka shrugged " I am asking about Dev sir Radhika"
Radhika felt a twinge of sadness in her heart , however she waved it off " How will I know about a person with whom I am not speaking"
Bharka looked at Radhika pensively " May I know the reason Miss.Radhika"
Radhika shrugged out wards, but inside she was crying " May be I am bored out of my best friend "
Bharka made Radhika stop " Radhika, before when I called him Boyfriend, I just joked. I mean he is a boy and he is my friend, I said it in that way"
Radhika smiled " You don't need to explain to me Bharka, we both decided not to bother one other,since summer"
Bharka asked " Did Dev said that to you Rdhika"
Radhika shook her head " No, I asked him and he agreed. Any way its time for my class Bharka. Anyway, if you want to meet your boy friend, he might be in music room right now" saying that Radhika winked and left.
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Dev came into music room angrily, that girl, she decided that he wasn't even eligible to speak to her, and now she was happily speaking with a said PG. Frustration, anger, thats what he was feeling right now, Dev started to play on drums and all,to relieve himself from frustration. However he didn't notice the said cause for his anger standing at door observing him.
After a while he stopped and then RK laughed " your music sense was really good." Dev perked his head up to see RK standing there, he thought of snapping, but controlled himself and said " May be its better than you thought sir." he added/
RK waved his hand off " Don't 'sir' me. It makes me feel as if I am some old coot. Any way you can call me RK. By the way your name, I am sorry for being so blunt."
Dev nodded " DevPurohith. Internee."
RK looked thought ful for a moment at the name but came out from his thoughts " Happy to meet you Dev. I think I can call you on your first name. Any way, you truly have a good music sense. How many years did you learn"
Dev looked at man perplexed, he expected him to be rude and arrogant if ever what he observed of man with others was any thing to go by, but here he was being civil to him. He decided to be civil as well " Yes you can call me Dev, and then No I never learned music. "
RK frowned for a second " But still your beats were quite right. Are you sure you never learnt music"
Dev sneered " I can assure you I am not a patient with amnesia. I stand by my words. And music always comes as a second nature to me"
RK paused a moment before speaking " If so, then I truly suggest you learning some music . It will help you relaxing your thoughts more.here is number of a teacher whom I like" saying that RK gave Dev a card and left.
Dev looked the way RK left confused and then looked at card in his hand. He was lost in thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned back to see Bharka standing there smiling to him. He managed to smile to her " Hi Bharka!"
Bharka scowled " Don't Hi me . I am in a bad mood"
Dev sighed, its really very commong of Bharka to have such mood swings "Now what happened"
Bharka sat beside him " That Radhika, she was friends with RK"
Dev raised his eye brow " So what's the problem for you"
Bharka looked at him as if he was stupid " Its RK ! Dev, she doesn't even tell me that she knows him. I mean he was one of the best singers around. You know I love music a lot."
Dev looked at Bharka pensievely for a moment and looked at card in his hand...
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Radhika looked at RK as if he was a ghost " Why should I resume my Music classes. I don't even remember half of them, I stopped them around 4 years back"
RK shrugged " We both know, how much your teacher ;like you. He's one of the best teachers right now in Delhi. People will give any thing to learn from him, yet you are here for whom he was ready to teach free of cost. You can't let that chance go"
Radhika looked thoughtful for a minute ... " But I am not good"
RK sighed " Oh common! You are not going to learn it so that you can give any stage shows, I know you don't like doing that. . I am asking you to start learning music because, it will get you the peace, which you are lacking."
Radhika finally nodded her head in yes.
O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera
Anupamaa
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