*::.~FF Dostana~.::* OLD CHAP PUT UP AGAIN

~~DOSTANA~~

:chapter 1:

~The one in he saves her, and she gives him a nickname.~

.

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 cosy 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 being the editor-in-chief of the magazine, her boss loved her already and she was quick in her job as the features editor. 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."

"Shan?"

"hmm..." she nodded, "it suits you."

he smiled at her, for a second mesmerised by her playful eyes, " Even though i have been Shantanu a long time and for everyone, i don't mind being Shan for you, and it does suit..."

"hopefully we will see each other again..."

"i am positive of that."

They both that night walked away from each other hoping to meet again soon, praying to god to let their paths cross again...

*::CHAPTER 2::*

~The one in which she swoons but refuses to admit it~

"He asked for your stats! What the hell! What did this perverted brain think he was, oh! If I would have been there he would not have been a man anymore!"

"Calm down super woman!" Khanak looked at her best friend Tashu, who was clearly red with anger. Tashu had returned from her holiday with Rohan just the previous night, and had come to meet khanak the first thing in the morning. Khanak had never had hidden anything from Tashu, just like Tashu had never concealed anything from her, they had a bond which almost bordered on sisterhood, they both loved each other immensely and had always joked they were soul sisters. Khanak handed Tashu a cup of coffee, "why didn't you punch the guy senseless, or …or kick him where it hurts the most?" asked Tashu. Khanak looked at her and shrugged.

"It's easy to give advice, think what you are going to do before hand, but seriously in that moment I was shocked and scared. I could have slapped him, but in my head I was feeling scared that what if he does something and no one was really there to help me out. Now looking back I can think of a thousand things to do but at that moment the only thing in my head was a get out of the situation as soon as possible and luckily…"

"What luckily, I should have not gone on a holiday with Rohan , I should have stayed with you. You have no idea how glad I am that you are safe." She went and hugged Khanak.

"Aww… Tashu!, who knew you had a soft spot in you, after so many year I had given up the hope !"

They both giggled, "Whatever… now tell me how did you get out of the situation?"

"Well that was what I was about to say before you interrupted me with your guilt ridden talks of- how you should not have gone a wonderful holiday with your boyfriend, but should have stayed with your boring friend instead!", Khanak ducked as a pillow came towards her, "anyway, so I was there trying to make that guy go away, when someone behind me shouts at him", she tried to mimic Shan's deep voice, " the girl told you to get lost, so get lost, cause let me tell you pal you don't want me to repeat it", she went and sat next to Tashu. "you should have seen that Shravan guy, he ran like he had seen a ghost, he even crashed …" she started laughing, " oh man! He crashed into a garbage bin, it was so funny!"

"Who was the guy who saved you?"

"His name was Shan … Shan his surname started from K , I think I am not sure, anyway this Shan , Oh my god Tashu , I saw him and died and went to heaven. He had the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen, and his fashion sense was fantastic and…"

Tashu smiled, "so you fell for the guy who saved you!"

"No, how can I fall for someone I just saw once, who saved me yes, but we just talked for less than five minutes, I think. I am just saying that he looked really great, perhaps the reincarnation of Achilles…"

"You are swooning Khanak!" said Tashu, laughing.

"No, I'm not! I just haven't had breakfast yet, coffee in an empty stomach does that to me!" Khanak threw a cushion at Tashu, "stop laughing, it's not funny, I am really hungry, come let's make pancakes" with that she stood up and went to the kitchen.

"Oh Khanak, I'm sorry, it's just you were swooning!"

"No I was not!"

Tashu put her hands up in surrender; she knew her friend would never confess to her swooning, "Moving forward, I need a huge favor to ask of you," after seeing a nod she continued, "You know how Rohan's parents are really rich," Khanak made a face meant to convey – of course silly- " good, so in one of their many houses, they are celebrating their wedding anniversary party. They are taking their close friends and their families to their mansion in Shimla for the weekend and I am invited, you know because I am Rohan's girlfriend and all."

"Oh that's great, you can finally meet his parents, and I am sure they are going to love you Tashu."

"I know, I know, it's just that they just absolutely loved Khushboo, my cousin, you know how she dated Rohan before me, and all?"

Khanak nodded, "So what? Tashu you are a great person, and you have far more personality and brains than your cousin, and Khushboo is fine with you two dating, you don't need to worry about a thing , they are going to love you, just like Rohan does, no actually not like him, but they are going to love you nonetheless."

"well, I am scared that they will not love as much as they loved Khushboo, I mean I love her but she is such a kiss ass, and I always end up saying all the wrong things, and always speak my mind, as if the edit button in my brain never existed!", she shrugged her shoulders, "Can you please come along, with you there I will feel a lot better, and you will be able to help me out since you are great with parents. Please come, please."

Khanak smiled, "a week in a fabulous palatial house for free, to help my friend , I'm there! Now don't worry, everything is going to be fine, the more you are going to think about it, the more sleepless nights you are going to have and the more haggard you are going to look", she smiled at her friend again," Now help me with these pancakes."

Tashu smiled back at her, she did not know what had she done to deserve a fantastic friend as her, and she had always been there for her. She was there to help her through her parents' divorce; she was there through her rebel years, she was just always there, she hoped she could be there for her someday. She then stood up and helped her friend make pancakes for both of them.

*.:CHAPTER 3:.*

~The one in which he is asked if he is gay~

"Shantanu are you even listening to what I have to say?!''

"Yes mom, but I don't want to go to some elderly couple's weekend anniversary celebration!''

"Why? And they are no EC! … This your best friends parent's! And they are almost mine and Sunil's age! Do you think we are old?'

Shantanu looked up from his cereal and looked towards his mother, question in his eyes, 'EC?'

Madhvi sighed, and closed her eyes in frustration, 'EC! Shantanu, tumhe EC nahi pata?! Uff, EC means Elderly couple!'

'oh! Nahi, I'm not trying to say you and dad are old, which you are…but since you want to deny it , I will roll with that… and as for the week long party, Mom I'm really busy… mere paas iss sab ka time nahi hai! I have five meetings this week, I even have a lunch with some delegates on Saturday! So please don't force me!'

'Shantanu Khandelwal! Kaam baad mein bhi ho sakta hai… par tumhari abhi age hai party karne ki!' said Shantanu's father, who up until then was just a mere audience to his wife and son's conversation, 'Beta meine bhi aapni age mein itna kaam nahi kiya tha! Even I used to enjoy. Ab Akshay ko dekh lo, he works but he also has something called a social life.'

'DAD!! I have a social life!'

'little bro, ghar se office aur office se ghar aane ko social life nahi kehte!'

'par mein…', Shantanu protested

'office parties are not counted!'

'They should be!'

'no they are not! You don't meet any new people there… bus delegates aur office ke jaane pehchane log!'

'Aur beta … tum twenty eight years ke ho! Tumhari koi girlfriend bhi nahi hai! it's not healthy!'

'MOM!? Please meri love life ke bare mein mujhe aap se koi baat nahi karni!'

'fine!' Madhvi turned to her husband, 'Sunil!'

'uh? Oh haan!... Shantanu, tum mujhse baat kar sakte ho…'

'Dad!'

'aur uss DID ka kya hua?' Madhvi asked her son.

'DID? Woh kya hota hai mom?'

'Shantanu! Issliye kehti hoon bahar niklo, logo se milo! tumhe DID nahi pata! Damsel in distress beta… , arrey wahi ladki jisse tumne KISA bankar bachaya tha from that DR…'

Shantanu just looked at his mom, open mouthed trying to figure out how does going out have anything to do with abbreviation speaking, and also trying to figure out what had she just said…

Madhvi sighed, ' KISA- knight in shining armor, and DR is disgusting rapist!'

'oh! Pata nahi … meine uska number nahi liya tha…'

'kyun?! Wasn't she pretty?'

Shantanu smiled as he recalled that night's events, the girl he had met, Khanak… her eyes, her smile, and the way his hair played with her face … 'no mom, she was… wait a minute! Meine aap ko uske bare mein toh kuch nahi bataya tha! AKSHAY BHAI!'

Akshay raised his hands in surrender, ' guilty is charged! But mom sab kuch nikalwa leti hai! terko pata hai na…'

Shantanu gave him his best, I-will-kill-you-later look.

'beta…'

Madhvi sat near Shantanu with a concerned look on her face, ' beta… '

Shantanu closed his eyes in frustration, 'kya mom?!'

'beta, I love you no matter what…'

'I know…'

'beta… are you… are you gay?'

'KYA?! MOM! Wha… n…no…NO… I'M NOT GAY! Aap…Ko aisa kaise lag sakta hai…'

'what?! tum bakki ladko ki tarah lakiyon ke peeche bhagte nahi ho, you don't have a girlfriend and have impeccable sense of fashion, can you really blame me for asking?'

'YES!'

'Shantanu I never doubted your sexuality…I just asked…'

Shantanu closed his eyes in frustration, this isn't happening to me! He thought…

'you know what? Fine… mein iss party mein aaonga, par aap log mujhpar combined attack karna bandh keejiye!' he walked away from the table.

Madhvi, Sunil and Akshay laughed and gave each other thumbs up. Shantanu turned, he had forgotten a file. He went and picked it up.

'and mom?'

'hmm beta?'

'I'm not GAY!'

'fine! You don't have to be HP about it…'

'Harry Potter?!'

'Homo Phobic!'

'oh! That makes more sense… hmm.. bye you all…'

Sunil, Madhvi and Akshay burst out laughing after Shantanu closed the door behind him.

'mom meine kaha tha na, the gay question will break him!'

'well you were abosolutely right! Now let's just hope uss party mein isse koi ladki pasand aa gaye!'

::::

Khanak sighed as she packed her clothes. She looked out her bedroom door and saw Rohan and Natasha cuddling on the couch watching a movie waiting for her to finish packing so they could start their Journey to Shimla. She smiled looking at them , completely in love with one another, 'love brids!'

She smiled as she picked up her favorite pink cardigan and folded it. 'I have a feeling though coco' she looked at her dog, 'that this trip is going to be life altering… hmm… something big is going to happen… or so I wish…'

Coco barked in response, as if agreeing with her, Khanak went up to her bedroom window and looked out to the vast city.

She never had had this strong a feeling about something, she closed her eyes, and saw Shan's chiseled face. 'you know what coco, I am a strong, independent woman, but I want my Mr. right too! Kash Shan jaisa, knight in shining armour type laka mujhe bhi mill jaye, best possible situation, Shan whatever his surname was hi mill jaye! Hai… the girl who gets him is going to be REALLY lucky!' she smiled again, as she went back to her packing.

::::

Shan threw in his sweaters in frustration, five meetings I had to cancel five meetings for this! He thought, 'ah! Wapas aa kar itna sara kaam karna padhega! This better be worth it!'

He went to his bedroom window, and closed his eyes and saw Khanak's smiling face, after years he had felt so attracted to a girl, he had had many flings but nothing serious, no one had ever been able to capture his attention the way she had…

'why … why didn't I take her number?! Stupid … stupid… STUPID ME!'

He kicked thin air, 'ek baar bus ek bar who mere samne aa gaye!...'

'Shantanu! Come on beta, humme Shimla ke liye mikalna hai!'

'ya mom coming!'

He threw in his favorite jacket and zipped his bag.

' I have a feeling that this trip is going to be boring… God! I hope I'm wrong…'

*.:CHAPTER 4:.*

~the one in which he learnt that pleasant coincidences do happen~

'Tere parents bhi na Rohan!'

'pata hai! Last of the true romantics, who believe in celebrating love at all ages...'

'I have no problem with that, par weekend long party! Aur mom ne mujhe threaten kiya hai, ki agar maine yeh party skip ki toh woh mujhe disown kardengi.'

'Which is good for me, koi toh ho jo mujhe company de.'

'kyun? Teri girlfriend itni boring hai?'

'Tashu? No way, bus woh bhi thodi busi hogi... mom loved her so they will spend some time together, aur woh apni ek dost ko bhi layi hai.'

'Dost? Interesting...'

'Not interesting Shantanu, Natasha aur uski dost behene jaisi hai, and if you break her heart...'

'Fine, par ek introduction toh banta hai yaar...come on, I promise mein usse flirt nahi maroonga.'

'Hmm, college se janata hoon tujhe and one thing that I know about you is...well ... ki teri promises break karne ke liye hoti hai.'

'oh really!? Toh tu usse two days chupa kar rakhne wala hai?'

'nahi, par usse warn karne wala hoon, ki tu "interested" hai.'

Shan smiled mischievously, and put his hands on his heart, 'oh Rohan you wound me.'

'drama queen.' Rohan said with a sigh.

'Get it right dude, drama king.'

Rohan laughed, 'Anyway, I'll meet you ,later, I promised Tashu ki main usse apne chestnut mare se milaoonga.'

'don't let me keep you, loverboy.'

Rohan smiled, 'jab tujhe koi milli gi tab baat karenge.' Rohan walked away.

'Oh! Rohan teri off limits friend ka naam kya hai?'

'uska naam Khanak hai, aur main late hoon, so bye!'

'Khanak? The DID? '

Shantanu smiled as he recalled that cold night, when he had saved Khanak from that cheap guy, can she be the same Khanak? He asked himself. He recalled her innocent smile and the way her hair played with her face... he smiled, 'nope, life main itne pleasant coincidences nahi hote... but I wish hote...'

He went to the attached terrace of his room and looked around took in the beauty of the landscape, he noticed a girl standing in the garden looking towards the mountains, she was far away, but the way she just stood there... she just looked serene... he smiled and went inside, but not before looking back at her once more.

::::

The drive to Shimla had been a fun one for Khanak, after all playing antakshari and joking around with your best friend and her potential in laws was always fun, especially when the friend in question was Tashu, and the potential In- laws were the Mehra's . Tashu and the Mehra's seemed to fit together perfectly, Rohan's parents were easy going and fun loving individuals, his mother had instantly made Khanak and Tashu feel at home with her, and his father had been gracious and funny, Khanak didn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard that water had come up her nostrils!

Looking at the four of them made her a tad bit jealous, she wanted to be and was a career oriented girl, she had big dreams and she wanted to fulfil them. But she sometimes did find herself wanting someone, hoping for someone who would support her and love her, etc etc...

She smiled looking at the wonderful mountains, she had lost track of time with her work, she had needed this vacation, a breather, a step back from life to figure where is she going and where does she want to go. Having the opportunity to do this amongst the beautiful mountains, surrounded by friends was all she needed.

'Hey Khanak tu yahan hai aur maine tujhe kaha kaha nahi dhoonda!'

'kyun kya hua Tashu?'

'aaj raat party hai! And I don't know what to wear!'

'Oh please! Miss Fashionista ko meri advice chahiye dressing department main, IMPOSSIBLE!'

'It was a bad lie wasn't it?'

'You think!?'

They laughed.

'Actually I wanted to ask you to come tonight, no excuses allowed! I really need you, agar tu nahi hoti toh main heart attack se mar jati on the way here!'

'What nonsense Tashu! You were perfect with Rohan's parents.'

'haan because meri best friend thi wahan. I knew if I screw up you will help me.'

'butter kar rahi hai.'

'thoda sa... please yaar aa ja na... you will also have fun! Come on!'

'fine, main aaongi but, you have to help me get dressed.'

'oh for sure!'

::::

Khanak nervously looked around, and tried finding Natasha, who she saw on the dance floor, swaying with Rohan, oblivious to the world. She let out a sigh, 'kya karoo itni bore ho rahi hoon! Yahan koi nahi hai jo mujhse baat kare!'

She looked around some, and went and got herself a drink after waiting, fruitlessly, for what seemed like hours for Rohan and Tashu's dance to get over.

'yeh dono bhi na! Especially Tashu, force kiya ke main aaoo, and then ek baar milne bhi nahi aayi! God this is going to be so boring!'

Khanak looked around and finally decided she was too bored to sit around, she looked towards the beautiful garden and longed to finish her solitary nature walk which had been disrupted in the afternoon by Natasha. She turned around and looked at Tashu and Rohan, still on the dance floor, 'well she isn't going to miss me...' she picked up her clutch and walked towards the garden...

::::

Shantanu looked around, hoping to find Rohan, so that he has someone other than the girls his mother and Rohan's mother had invited, in their matchmaking scheme.

'hi Shantanu!'

He turned around to be greeted by another made up girl in hunt for a husband, 'hey! Umm... ms?'

'Ms. Malini Sharma, tum mere dad ko to jaante hi hoge?'

Shantanu smiled, 'tumhare dad?'

'Mr. Kapil Sharma...'

'oh yes, yes Mr. Sharma, nice man.'

'I know, aaj ka weather bahut achcha hai na? It's so romantic!'

'hmm...' Shantanu looked around and spotted Rohan dancing with a girl, that must be Natasha, he thought to himself, 'my god love sick puppies ki tarah dance kar rahe hai!'

'tumne kuch kaha?'

'Uh... yaa, nice meeting you malini, but I have to go, mujhe ek dost dikha hai, I will talk to you soo, bye.'

Mujhe pata tha! I just knew it; the whole thing smelled like a trap to me, aur ab main iss trap main phas chukka hoon! Shan thought to himself as he walked towards the dance floor to meet Rohan, when he noticed a girl in black, walking towards the bar. He couldn't explain it but he felt like he knew that girl, that the way she walked was similar to someone, but he couldn't place her.

He tried to put her aside in his mind and tried getting Rohan's attention. 'yeh Rohan bhi na!' he looked back, wanting to get a glimpse of the girl in black again, he wouldn't admit but he was intrigued. He kept staring at her shamelessly, hoping that she will turn and let him have a look. And then a minute later she turned and looked towards the dance floor, and she took his breathe away, 'oh. My. God! Khanak!'

He couldn't believe his eyes, the same girl who he had saved, was standing near the bar. The very same girl, whose number he had forgotten to take, for which he had cursed himself since days. He couldn't believe his luck, he had never thought that he would be able to cross paths with that beautiful stranger, and now she turned out to be his best friend's girlfriend's best friend, small world.

He put on his most flirtatious smile and started walking towards her, but she turned and started walking towards the garden.

'Where is she going?'

He was intrigued, and so he followed her.

::::

Khanak took a deep breath as she wrapped her hands around herself, ' Kash main har roz aisi walks par jaa pati, just me and the nature.'

She smiled, as she remembered, the one year that her dad and she lived in Manali. They both used to go for nature walks every evening, and she always used to climb trees, and scrape her knees in the process.

She looked at the tall tree in front of her, and wondered whether she will still be able to climb a tree. She thought about it for a second, it's worth a shot, I mean zayada se zayada kya hoga, I will be unsuccessful, she thought to herself. She took off her heels and kept her clutch and the side, with her shoes. She looked around and then pulled her dress up, slightly, and held the tree and tried climbing it.

Shantanu followed Khanak as quietly as he could, which was quiet enough, because she seemed oblivious to the fact that she was being followed. He felt like a sick stalker, but then whenever she stopped to take a deep breath and take in the nature, she looked so beautiful, that he was able to forget that he was following her like a stalker, she looked serene and ... he just didn't have words.

He knew thousands of women, many of them were beautiful, attractive and intelligent to but none had captured his attention as Khanak had. There is just something about her... he thought , as he hid behind a tree, as she stopped once again. She wrapped her hands around herself and slightly bent her head to one side as she looked at a tree, his eyes travelled down the slender curve of her neck, god she is beautiful, he thought with a mischievous smile.

He looked back at her, and she was taking off her shoes, what is she doing? Did she sense that I am here? Girls have a freakishly good sixth sense! What if she is taking her shoes out to hit me! He thought. But she kept her shoes aside and kept her purse with her shoes. What is she up to?

She then pulled her dress up, a little, but it was enough to have his heart racing, he looked at her thighs, and all he could do was control his breathing, which was becoming more ragged by the second, he looked away from her legs and looked at her, she was hugging the tree. He raised his eyebrow in question, yeh itni badi nature lover hai ki trees ko hug karti hai chipko movement style?!

But then she tried putting her one leg on the tree, is she?! No! Yes!, he smiled, 'she is trying to climb the tree!

He kept looking at her with an amused expression, she is trying to climb a tree wearing a dress, and she seems to be good at it... interesting!

'ouch! Shit!'

He saw that she was losing her grip and he came out from hiding and held her before she hit the ground. 'aaram se!'

Khanak looked at the guy who had prevented her from falling, 'you?! Tum yahan kaise?! Aur tumne mujhe utha kyun rakha hai! Mujhe neeche utaro!'

'Rohan mera dost hai isliye main yahan hoon, aur maine tumhe pakad rakha hai kyun ki tum girne wali thi! Aur thanks bolne ke bajaye tum mujhe order kar rahi ho!'

'thanks mujhe phir se bachane ke liye...uh...'

Shantanu didn't know why but she not remembering his name pinched, 'tumhe mera naam yaad nahi hai?'

'sorry, I am horrible with names, mujhe yaad hai ki maine tumhe Shan nickname diya tha par main tumhara poora naam bhool gayi...sorry'

'I can't believe it! Maine tumhari Izat bachai aur tumhe mera naam bhi yaad nahi tha!'

'Izat bachai!' Khanak started to laugh, 'oh Shan! Tum zayaada filmi nahi ho rahe?! Izat bachai!'

'filmi hai, but saach hai.'

'well... nahi, woh toh tum aa gaye warna main uss pervert ka khyaal rakh sakti thi.'

'oh really! Kais,e please keh kar?'

'nahi! Main uske sar par sauce ki bottle mardeti!'

'sauce ki bottle?'

'haan... 50 rs ka nuksaan hota, par main bach pati...' they both laughed.

' hey! Tumne mujhe abhi bhi apni bahoon main utha rakha hai!'

'oh sorry.' He put her back on the ground. And she fixed her dress, as went and picked up her shoes and clutch.

'chalo main tumhe accompany karta hoon, party tak.'

'okay. '

They started walking, Khanak still holding her shoes in her hands and Shantanu with his hands in his pocket.

' tum yahan kaise? Garden mein?' she asked, breaking the silence between them.

'uh... woh... main nature walk le raha tha...' he took in a deep breath, 'away from all the noise and everything.'

'oh! Main bhi, party main bore bhi ho rahi thi. Waise tum Mehra's ko kaise jaante ho?'

'main Rohan ka best friend hoon.'

She stopped looked at him with a smile, 'best friend?' she laughed, 'toh tum Shantanu Khandelwal ho?'

'hmm,' he nodded, 'kyun?'

Khanak controlled her laughter, 'kuch nahi, afternoon mein Rohan milla tha, he told me to be beware of you, kyun ki tum "interested" ho.'

Shantanu blushed a little with embarrassment, 'he did not say that!'

She nodded, 'he did.' And with that she started laughing again and looking at her, he laughed too.

She started walking again and he followed.

'toh, mr Shantanu Khandelwal, what do you do, beside being "interested" in me.'

'well Ms. Khanak...'

'Kapoor.'

'Ms. Khanak Kapoor, besides being "interested" I do business.'

'Oh! Sounds so serious...'

'it is, but it can be fun too, business parties and all...'

'I bet, and girls dig a guy in an Armani suit, looking all serious and broody.'

'hmm.. that too.'

'waise main ek features editor hoon.'

'oh sorry main poochna bhool gaya.'

'dont worry, main bhi toh tumhara naam bhool gayi thi.'

'kaunsi magazine main?'

'Trend.'

'Fashion slash women's magazine. Hmm...'

'hmm? Kyun tumhe nahi lagta main ek fashion slash women's magazine main kaam kar sakti hoon?! I mean look at me!'

She slowly twirled, and he looked back at her, and looked at her intensely. The look in his eyes, made a shiver run down Khanak's spine, and she slightly blushed.

Their eyes met and he for a second Shantanu was mesmerised, he wanted to pull her to him, and kiss her but he controlled his emotion, he looked away and cleared his throat.

'no, it's just... interesting.' He said with a smile, as he turned looked at her face, she smiled, and nodded.

'interesting...'

They started walking again and fell into a comfortable silence, until they saw the music from the party travelled to their ears.

'we are almost there.' Said Shantanu and looked at her.

'yup we are, um wait a minute.' She put on one of her shoe, and stood on that leg to put on the other one, she lost balance and fell towards him, and he held her. His hands were wrapped around her waist, and her eyes looked into his, her eyes filled with innocence and longing.

He looked at her with an intensity that made her heart race, and she knew that she wanted to kiss him.

Their breaths mingled, and the air grew hot and heavy.

She nervously wet her lips and his eyes dropped to her lips. It was a strange thing, the pull he felt towards her, he knew he must let her go, that was the right thing to do, but he couldn't make himself let go of her. He thought of saying something flip and droll, but nothing. No words could capture the desire he felt for her.

He brought his lips closer to hers, and she did the same. His lips touched hers softly at first, not because he wanted to be gentle but because he wanted to give her a chance of refusal. But she when she wrapped her hand around his neck he held her tightly against him, and pushed her against a tree, as their kiss deepened.

She felt like she was in heaven when his lips touched hers in the barest, softest hint of a caress. She knew they should stop, they were in a garden, with twenty people, not far away, which included, rohan, Natasha and rohan's parents!

She put her hand on his chest and pushed him a little breaking their kiss.

'uh... we should... not...' she said breathless.

He took in a deep breath, and nodded, 'ya...'

He stepped away from her, and she straightened her dress.

They both looked at each other, and smiled, 'interesting...' she said with a smile.

Shantanu smiled back at her, 'interesting...'

'toh...um... chale party mein...'

'yaa, after you.' He picked up her clutch which had fallen on the ground in their passionate moment, and handed it to her.

They both walked towards the party, still blushing and a little short of breath.