In a dark room at Mount College.
Abhay is with Anushka and they both are looking down at the complex of Mount College. Kabir is with Pancchi and Misha. Sam is talking to Jack near the gates while Piya is listening to the jabber of the gang but appears disoriented. Abhay is looking angry and upset while Anushka looks guilty.
Abhay ( looking down at Kabir )- You swerved T's car, didn't you?
Anushka ( quietly )- Yes.
Abhay ( still looking at Kabir)- The tree in the compound fell on the day of my arrest due to your temper bout , didn't it?
Anushka ( looking like a reprimanded child )- Yes.
Abhay ( turns to her)- You are getting friendly with everyone, especially Kabir. Am I right?
Anushka looks at him and she can see the familiar stern veins on his forehead and she knows she cannot lie to him. She nods. Abhay extends his hand .
Abhay ( calmly)- Come here, Anushka. I want to show you something.
Anushka gives her hand to Abhay and he gently holds it and brings her nearer to show her the world down the window.
Abhay ( pointing down )- Look at them'..all these happy , cheerful faces. They all lead normal lives and they are happy in their small world'..( looks at her)'. Do you see yourself amongst them?
Anushka ( looks at him , puzzled )- How can I, Abhay? I am standing here with you ' in the dark.
Abhay ( gives her a small smile )- Exactly my point. While all of them ' all those human beings are children of light ' we- the creatures of dark belong in shadows'( turns her to face him)' Anushka, we are not one of them. We never will be. It is not good for us or them to mingle with each-other. Do you understand the repercussions of them getting close to you?
Anushka ( her face falls )- Yes' I do. Danger for us and imminent death for them.
Abhay ( strongly )- So, you get my point?
Anushka ( nods )-I do. I must not get closer and keep distance'.( pause)' especially Kabir.
Abhay ' Exactly. T told me that you have been seeing a lot of him'..not good. He is Piya's boyfriend.
Anushka ( looks caught)- I am not flirting'.( takes a deep breath)' okay, fine! I am not going to snatch him from Piya. Chill.
Abhay nods at her and turns to go.
Anushka ( hesitantly )- Abhay, have you forgiven Piya? She was really upset.
Abhay ( looking blankly into space)- I was never upset with her'.
With this Abhay walks out and before Anushka can say anything , her cellphone rings and she looks at the flashing number.
Anushka ( puzzled)- Haseena aunty?...Ughs! She always brings bad news'( takes the call)'. Hello aunty! Am great'( looks puzzled )'. What? In the parking lot? Uh, sure. Am coming'.( ends the call)'.trouble, Anushka. Haseena aunty wants to talk something important! I hope she hasn't found out about my witchy antics in college!
Anushka runs out of the room.
College Canteen.
In the canteen, Kabir, Piya, Pancchi , Misha and Sambhav and Tracker are sitting over coffee and sandwiches. Misha is irritating Pancchi and rest are having a ball at her expense.
Misha ( covering her head with a dupatta and getting all coy)- This is how you should be practicing becoming a good bahu, birdie!...And start touching Danish's feet everyday as a part of your wifely duties. I don't want your saasu maa telling me that I didn't teach you anything!
Kabir almost coughs on the coffee that he is drinking and Piya has to literally pat his back to get his breathing back. Pancchi picks a sandwich and throws it at Misha which lands on Tracker's face.
Tracker ( screams)- EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPS! Mayonnaise is not good for the skin'.( running towards the washroom)' I don't want to turn up at your engagement with a beetroot face.
Misha ( angrily)- Birdie! I mean, Panchhi! Good bahus don't behave like that!
Kabir ( sternly)- Pancchi, I will not tolerate you throwing sandwiches around my expensive furniture!
Pancchi ( screams )- Shut up all of you! And stop acting funny , alright? It is my engagement today and you all should be helping me. '.Kabir , the play is next week. Kidnap, blackmail, order or whatever ' get Abhay and Piya to do the rehearsals. I am off now. I have to go to the beauty parlour.
Kabir ( pulling Piya close)- I can promise you that my girlfriend will be on time for both rehearsals and the engagement but Abhay? I put my hands up.
Piya ( defensively )- No, it's not like that! ' ( everybody looks at her in surprise )'. Abhay will show up for rehearsals. He is hard but am sure he will take his work seriously.
Kabir( looks at her searchingly )- I am sure that he will.
Pancchi ( waves at Danish who is waiting on his bike in the parking lot)- Okay , am going. See you guys in the night.
Pancchi goes away and Misha, her head still covered with a dupatta waves her bye alongwith others when a voice comes from behind. It is Sambhav.
Sam ( putting a 25paisa coin in her hand )- Sheesh! Who lets beggars inside the college and they hop and stop people with their hands to beg for money!
Kabir coughs on his drinks and Piya spots Abhay going towards his car. She tilts her head and looks at him and leaving Kabir ,she goes towards the parking lot. Kabir doesn't notice because he is laughing his head off on a shocked Misha's face who has dropped the dupatta and is glaring at Sambhav who is acting all shocked.
Misha ( bellows )- Sambhav! I am not a beggar! Are you like water-logged in the head?
Sam makes an innocent face and round her up , scanning her from top to bottom.
Sam ( naughtily )- I am so sorry, Miss. Dobriyaal. I mean , I didn't know wearing an orange dupatta over khakee shorts and a white vest is fashion.
Kabir ( adds spice )- Not your mistake, dude. She often looks like a beggar ' oops, upmarket beggar' ( extends his hand )' hi, I am Kabir, We have not met that properly-properly.
Sam shakes his hand warmly'
Sam ( smiles )- Sambhav. Psychology honours'. Good to know you properly-properly! '( winks at Misha)' Misha, how do you manage such cool guys as friends inspite of clothes like that!
Kabir ( straight-faced )- EEEKS, Sambhav! Don't call me her friend in public!
Misha ( taking off her sneakers and running after them )- MEN! You both are so dead! Let's see who reaches birdie's engagement alive!
Kabir and Sam run and Misha goes after them. Jack is watching them from a distance and there is a smile on his face ' a wicked smile'
Parking lot.
Abhay is getting inside his car when Piya quietly calls him from behind.
Piya ( timidly )- Abhay?
Abhay shuts the car's door and turns around. His stone cold expression and arrogant eyes are back.
Abhay ( coldly )- Now what?
Piya ( walks a little closer to take a good look at him)- How are you feeling now? You were very upset in the morning. I just wanted to know if you were okay now.
Abhay's face softens as he recalls how Piya caught his hand to stop him from tripping on that staircase .
Abhay ( quietly )- I am okay, now'. ( raises his hand to stop her from talking )'. And don't ask me what happened'..( thinks and then, looks at her face )' and' thank you. You saved me from an accident. I am '. I am grateful.
Piya's face beams into a big smile upon hearing that Abhay can see her eyes shine. His simple gratitude seems to have made her face and heart bloom.
Piya ( hesitantly )- Ummm' so , can I expect you to forgive me , now?... ( makes a baby face)'. Please?
Abhay looks at her face for a moment or two and then, his mind starts working. He leans against his car and looks at Piya.
Abhay ( crossing his arms across his chest )- You really want me to forgive you?
Piya ( nods )- Yes!
Abhay ( playing a mind game )- You will do anything to get my forgiveness?
Piya ( sincerely )- Yes!
Abhay ( smirks )- Are you sure? ' ( she nods)'. I can forgive you on two conditions' one, you will not seek any kind of friendship or companionship in me and treat me as a stranger ' two, you will never ask me any question that I don't want to answer.
Piya blinks her big eyes at him as he smiles triumphantly.
Piya ( taken aback )- It is the same as we are now!
Abhay ' Yes , but am giving you a clean deal. You get out of my way and I take off your guilt.
Piya looks confused and steps back.Abhay looks at her amused and opens his car door. He is about to sit inside when Piya holds his hand. He looks at her fair hand on his wrist and looks up at Piya with raised eyebrows.
Piya ( defeated )- Okay. You win. Forgive me and I give in to the two conditions. Happy?
Abhay ( looks relieved )- Smart and sensible. Great. You are forgiven, Piya Jaiswal. No hard feelings'. Oops' I meant , no hard feelings.
He sits inside the car and looking at her sad and sunken face in the side mirror , he drives away. Piya keeps standing there watching Abhay's car disappear down the road. She is surprised to feel a tear roll down her cheek.
At the backside of the parking lot of Mount College , a shocked Anushka is looking at a stern Haseena Raichand with saucer like eyes.
Anushka ( agitatedly )- Aunty! You cannot be serious about this!
Haseena ( fluttering her eye lashes in irritation )- Ah, stop overreacting like those moronic human beings, Anushka! Of course, I am serious.
Anushka ( flustered )- I can't do that to Abhay! Keep a watch on him like that clown Danish and keep him away from Piya. ' and if you are expecting me to use my witch powers to control his mind , then, it is criminal. If I fail and Abhay finds out , he will kill me!....i will lose his trust!
Haseena ( irritated )- Losing his trust is better than losing him ! You know how intense and passionate his love for Maithli was! He is seeing a second chance in Piya ' a faulty human being! Do you know what that means? '.Abhay and Piya are an impossible love story , Anushka . With the werewolves back , we need a strong , ruthless, evil and focused Abhay , not a lovelorn weakling! And why don't you think about Piya's betterment as well? She can't love a blood sucking beast, right?
Anushka looks confused and unconvinced. Haseena pats her head lovingly'
Haseena ( firmly)- You sure don't want to see Abhay broken '.again'right?
Anushka looks at Haseena and shakes her head.
Haseena ' So?
Anushka- Tonight. At the engagement party'..
TO BE CONTINUED'''''''''
Edited by Pocahontas - 14 years ago
