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Khanak had been walking down the street near her house, she had run to the store to get a few things for making her dinner, it was the night of Diwali; it was an extremely cold weather. She was going as fast as she could, she wanted to get back to her cozy apartment, get the food ready and sit near the window with diyas lighting her room, while her favourite music played in the background as she ate her home cooked food.
This year she had not gone to her parent's for Diwali, she had wanted to celebrate it in her new home, she had just rented one , it was not a very great place, but she loved it. She had always wanted to have a place of her own, her home was small, with just one bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, it was not big but she had tried to make it as homey as possible. She had gone shopping with her dear friend Tashu and had got a lot of things. Nothing too big, but were colorful and vibrant, things which made her happy. Pillows cushion coverers, and unconventional lambs, a small desk to work on, kitchen utensils, and many more things. It had been a wonderful day, it still brought a smile to her face, she had been so happy to finally shop for her home.
When she had told her parents about staying in Delhi for diwali, her mother had been a little disappointed, but her father had completely understood her, and had said he was proud that she was growing into a fine, independent girl.
This year had been a good year, she had finally been able to get an apartment, she had gotten a job, she will soon be able to start fulfilling her dream of owning her own business empire, her boss loved her already and she was quick in her job, though she was an assistant, she was still learning a lot. Her father was keeping well. Her best friend, Natasha, who she called Tashu, had finally found a boyfriend, Rohan, and she was really happy, Khanak was happy for her friend, happy that she had found love, and a person who shared her dreams and values. Khanak had got dog, a pug, she had named her coco. Khanak smiled; she was happy, and content that things were going the way she had hoped.
She went on walking to her apartment, thinking of her life and how it had changed, and how she wanted it to change more and in what ways. She made a plan in her head of how she will be fantastic at her job, and will get promotion after promotion, then how she will love to open her own company, she dreamt of getting her name in the top five richest people of India. Her dreams were interrupted by a push, and the next thing she knew, her ass was on the cold sidewalk, and all of her groceries were on the ground beside her. "OUCH, bloody hell, are you blind or just plain dumb!"
"Sorry, I was in a hurry to reach my house, I am really sorry; here I'll help you up"
Khanak did not look up and started collecting her fallen groceries, "well I get the enthusiasm to reach home mister, but at least look where you are going, because of you most of my stuff is ruined, and now how the hell am I going to have my dinner, huh?!?"
The stranger sat down on his knees and began helping her, "I am really sorry, I '"
Khanak stopped him and looked up, "its fine, you don't need to help me".
"no , I insist, please let me help you, my name is Shravan by the way, I live nearby why don't you come over and let me make it up to you?" he winked at her shamelessly.
Khanak was brimming with anger, but she knew that she should just try and get out of the situation somehow, rather than try and bash the guy's face in. " No, it's fine, I'm fine please go, I will take care of it myself", she as she got up.
"Well at least tell me your name".
"Why don't you just go, rather than trying to act smart, huh?"
"Because I want your phone number, perhaps your address, and your stats" replied Shravan, with a disgusting, perverted look on his face.
"Just get lost!"
"What will you do if I don't?"
"Hey! What the hell do you think you are doing?" asked a man from behind Khanak.
Khanak turned around and was absolutely mesmerized, he looked like Greek mythological figure, perhaps a re- birth of one. He was tall, his shoulders were broad and gorgeous. His arms were perfect, not too much muscle, nether were they too lean, just perfect. And his built, ah... not too much muscle but just the right amount, his fashion sense impeccable.
"The girl told you to get lost, so get lost. Because, let me tell you something pal you don't want me to repeat it!"
Khanak turned to look Shravan running away in the opposite direction, much like he had seen a ghost! And then Shravan looked back to see if he was being chased when he fell , pushing a garbage can to the ground. Seeing this she laughed, inhibited, cheerful, and full- of life kind of laugh, a laugh which could have smitten anyone and the stranger was indeed smitten' because he could do nothing but stare at her.
He hadn't noticed the girl before, the girl, who he had just saved from a potential rapist, and now he could not help but notice how beautiful she was. Her eyes were hazel, her face ' it was beautiful with lips that were full. Her hair which were a shade of dark brown, were straight and long, and he just could not overlook the delicate way her hair played with her face in the cold windy night.
Khanak tried to stop laughing, "Sorry, it's just that the way that guy ran in the opposite direction after seeing you, it was funny"
The stranger came out of his spell, "I guess it was a bit funny"
Khanak looked at him with delight, "it was wasn't it? He was trying to act all smart in front of me but he ran like a chicken when he saw you, it was hilarious, anyway, thanks a lot for saving me."
"it's my pleasure to be of help to a gorgeous girl like you"
She looked at him a mixture of shock and delight in her playful eyes.
"I don't mean it in a perverted sort of a way, it was just a compliment, I mean you are really beautiful, I mean I am sorry, I should not have complimented you in such a manner, with what you just went through, forgive me."
Khanak started to laugh again, "you are the chivalrous kind aren't you?". She looked into his eyes, his beautiful brown eyes, and she felt herself blushing, "Anyway don't worry I wasn't offended at being called beautiful by you, I mean...I... anyone would like to be called beautiful... anyway my name is Khanak."
The stranger smiled, "hi, my name is Shantanu Khandelwal, nice meeting you."
They stood there shaking each other's hand just staring at each other until khanak came back to her senses. "so ' do you live around here?" she asked.
"No, my friend does, I was just visiting her."
He was meeting a 'her'. For some reason Khanak didn't like it too much that is was a 'her', she hoped it was a married her, with loads of freckles , a pimple here and there with a touch of sweat, no loads of it, and also a husband who was helping her cook dinner for their guest. But she somehow was sure that the her in question was very much single and , she won't be surprised if the her in question was also very beautiful, after all god- like men like Shantanu always had the sexiest girl in the room in their arms, not the average-looking funny ones like herself. She let out a sigh as she thought about her luck.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no it's just that I must go it's getting late, I have to go make dinner and I also have a dog, she must be waiting for me, just like you're her' uh, I mean your friend." She shut her eyes and silently cursed herself as she turned to pick up her groceries which were on the ground, "stupid, stupid, stupid'"
"Who is stupid?" Shantanu asked with a smile.
"Ah' Shravan, stupid, stupid Shravan", when she saw his confused face, " he was the guy who misbehaved with me."
He nodded his head in reply. And awkward silence fell between them as she got her groceries together with his help.
"Thank you once again, and it was nice meeting you", she said as she stood up checking if she had everything.
"My pleasure", he said with a smile, "bye, then."
She smiled, "bye."
As Khanak turned to walk, "uh...Khanak." She turned to look at him, he shrugged and said, "Huh... Happy diwali."
She smiled, "Happy diwali to you to Shan."
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