*::.~FF Dostana~.::* OLD CHAP PUT UP AGAIN - Page 13

*::.CHAPTER 9.::*

~the one in which she thinks he is not over his EX~

'oh god! My eyes!'

Khanak got out of her bed, reluctantly and made her way to the kitchen, she put water and milk on the gas and reached for the coffee , only to realise coffee was finished, 'NO! No coffee! UH!' she felt like a zombie, thanks to the four hours of sleep she had had. 'ab kya karoo?!' she turned the gas off and picked up coco, who was waging her tail.

She walked across the hall and rang the bell...

'hey! Wow you- look... wow!'

'I want...no NEED coooffeee!'

Shantanu smiled, 'come on in queen of the zombies...' he took coco from Khanak's hands and moved towards the kitchen. He gave his coffee mug to Khanak, and then took out a bowl, and gave coco milk.

'tum itne... tayaar kyun ho?'

Shantanu poured himself coffee and sat on the chair, and looked at Khanak who was sitting on the table...

'matlaab?'

'you are fresh, non-zombie like and are not in your night clothes on a Sunday... Shantanu it's SUNDAY!'

'you are so cheerful today!'

She hit him lightly on his arm, 'no sarcasm allowed, my brains are not working enough to process it and then give you a witty answer!'

'when are they working enough to do that?'

'Shantanu!'

'fine I will make breakfast...'

'you making breakfast?! God i didn't know this was my last day on earth!'

'I see your brain is working now...'

'It's starting to... it is in the process...'

'waise tum itne ready ho kyun?'

'mom aa rahi hai...'

'Madhvi aunty... toh?'

'toh yeh, if I dont show I'm doing well alone, she will start hurling emotional lines at me to make me move back in.'

'hmm... emotional atyaachar, very bad!'

'Anyway, dad bhi aa rahe hai... you wanna stay and meet them? as it is if mom sees you are here she might feel better about the whole situation...'

'she has only met me once in Shima...'

'ya but seeing a woman around she will feel better 'cause then she will start dreaming about us getting married and everything.'

'so she is the "puttar tu shaadi kyun nahi kar leta!" wali mother's?'

'nope. Only with me... but perhaps that is because Akshay bro had a girlfriend at my age who he is now about to marry.'

'hmm... fine I will be there, waise bhi tumhare saath dinner khane ki adat ho gayi hai, if you move back to your place it will be so incomfy for you.'

'for me?'

'ya, tum har raat yahan aaoge, khana khane phir raat ko drive kar kar wapas ghar joage, kafi hectic hoga na?'

'matlaab main drill karoo tum mere ghar nahi aa sakti!'

'tum hari mom.'

'Oh ya! Mujhe hi aana padega.'

'par you are not moving out so... let's drop this topic, it's making me uncomfortable.'

'eggs?'

'hmm...two...'

'without egg yellow, very little oil, olive oil, and mushrooms, no salt, pepper, lots of it.'

'yup!' Khanak smiled as Shantanu got to work...

'and boiled eggs, with chilli sauce for you, two slices of bread... with orange juice... is on it's way, after I finish my precious coffee.'

:::::::

'Khanak Kapoor! Tu appna phone kyun nahi utha ti!?'

'sorry meri maa shower le rahi thi!'

'excuses, excuses... you weren't even picking up your phone in the morning!'

'that time i was having breakfast at Shaan's.'

'Shaan's?'

'ya, you remember, your boyfriends best friend, my neighbour... the guy you always advise me to date. Does it ring a bell?'

'I know who Shaan is, I just don't get why you both are spending so much time together!'

'because we are friends...'

'Yaa... right...friends...' Tashu said in a sarcastic tone.

'so you called to give me a lecture again?'

'no, I called to fix a lunch date.'

'sorry...ek minute ruk.' Khanak hurriedly put on her shirt

'ya, sorry about that was wearing my shirt... anyway, sorry I can't Shaan's parents are coming over and I promised him...'

'parents?''

'ya, Aunty M and Sunil uncle...'

'I know!' Tashu sighed, she knew telling her friends anything would prove to be fruitless, so instead she asked,'dinner?'

'Ouch!'

'Khanak?!'

'Damn it!'

'KHANAAAK!'

'sorryy, stupid stiletto pehnte pehnte gir gayee.'

'giree hui insaan! Anyway, dinner?

'perfect!'

'great meet you at the usual place?'

'see you there!'

'bye then, and have fun with Shaan and his parents...'

'thanks, bye.'

'hmm...' Tashu cut the phone, and looked at Rohan who was bent over some papers, 'I don't feel right about this.'

'about what?'

'about Khanak-Shaan!'

'why?'

'Rohan?'

'hmm...'

'look up please, I feel like I am having a conversation with your sir ki kheti!'

'kya?!'

'I feel like i am having a conversation with you hair!'

Rohan looked up, 'fine? Kya hua?'

Tashu went and sat on his table, 'I feel... they shouldn't hang out so much.'

'why?'

'because, my unobservant boyfriend, they are bound to fall in love!'

'what, Tashu a girl and a guy can be great friends!'

'Uff! I know! I have so many guy friends, who are just friends and you have so many girl friends, who are just friends, but... with theses two- how do i explain it? They... have a pull between each other, which they have buried right now, but it can re-surface, and for whoever it does first, well that person will have a hard time.'

'but there is no guarantee of that ever happening, they want different...'

'right now they do, but in future?'

'tab ki tab soochenge.'

'ya right! Problem jab tak door par knock nahi karti uske bare main soocho maat?!'

'Tashu... probably this problem never occurs...'

'please! It will. '

'how can you be so sure.'

'because though at first glance they seem extremely different, but they aren't. They are alike, and the ways in which they are different actually works for them, they will have a great relationship, and ... an undeniable attraction between one another. In fact I can bet, both or at least one is still attracted to the other one.'

'Tashu, you are speculating now...'

'Uh! I just don't want them to be hurt!'

'I know Jaan, but probably they are better off as friends...'

'probably.'

Rohan, hugged Tashu to comfort her and went back to his work, but Tashu was still not convinced...

:::::

'Mom I am learning how to cook, I will not starve to death!

Khanak entered Shaan's house and smiled as she heard Madhvi aunty and Shaan's conversation. She looked around and found Sunil uncle in the living room, she walked towards him, 'so how is the attempt to make Shaan move back going?'

Sunil looked up from the scotch bottle he had in his hand, and smiled when he saw Khanak,'I would say... bad for Madhvi, Shaan is doing much better than we expected, and I know you are to thank for that...'

'a little bit.' Khanak said with a smile.

'Ah! Don't be modest! Should I pour you some scotch or you are a wine person like Madhvi?'

'hmm... I think I am in a mood for scotch...'

'Excellent choice!'

Like father like son, thought Khanak, ' I do like wine more, I just feel like having scotch today... something stronger.'

'well, with scotch, at first you want it sometimes, a but you never realise when sometimes becomes always...'

Khanak thanked Sunil when he handed her the glass, 'so what did I miss...'

'Living room inspection, was not that fun... bedroom on the other hand, fantastic! Very funny... for me frustrating for Shaan, the kitchen inspection is next...'

Khanak laughed, 'Oo! Good I didn't miss the best part!'

Khanak and Sunil had become friends of sorts, since the time they had met. She loved him, maybe because he reminded her of her own father so much, the carefree nature with his children, but all serious when it came to work, just like her dad.

'beta, Madhvi is bringing out the big guns, I was actually surprised she didn't get glycerine for fake crying!'

Khanak laughed, 'please uncle aunty itna bhi nahi karengi!'

'beta Madhvi kuch bhi... Madhvi! Bedroom theek hai?'

'theek?! It's so small and the bed feels so uncomfortable...Oh Khanak beta sorry I didn't see you there! She went and hugged Khanak, 'So good to see you again!'

'same here Aunty M!'

'the only thing keeping me short of having a heart attack is that you live across the hall.'

'I am flattered aunty, but Shaan is doing pretty well himself.'

'I doubt that! 'once he was back home on a holiday from college, and very sweetly made coffee for Sunil and me. It was so touching...'

'aww that is so sweet...'

'yes, but then I went to the kitchen, I found that the whole place was turned upside down!'

'mom, that was because I didn't know where the coffee was!'

Khanak looked at Shaan and smiled, she then looked at Madhvi who continued her story, 'and one of the utensils was burnt!'

'that was because I... Ahem... had fallen...asleep...on the kitchen counter.' Shaan scratched his head and looked around, avoiding Khanak's laughing face.

'but thankfully now he doesn't burn anything except for the food, sometimes,' added Khanak, with a smile.

'hey! That was only once!'

'but it happened...'

'Khanak you are supposed to be on my side, helping me prove to mom here, that I am quite good at taking care of myself.'

Madhvi turned to her son, 'I am sure you are good enough. It's that I don't feel good without you around!'

Shaan hugged his mom, and Madhvi mouthed, "Not true." To Khanak and Sunil, making them laugh. 'Maa I am in Delhi only, not in outer space!'

'you are still away.'

'only a few kilometres!' Sunil added.

'it is still away, for a mother.' added Khanak.

'You are so on her side! Dhoke Baaz!' Shaan pouted and made his way to the kitchen to get some snacks that he and Khanak had prepared together.

'Wine for you my darling wife.'

Madhvi took the wine and turned to Khanak, 'beta I need to talk to you.'

she held Khanak's arms and they proceeded to the terrace.

:::::

'Beta how are you?'

'I'm fine ... but I don't think you brought me out here to ask me that.'

'no I didn't, and sorry for being so transparent about it.'

Khanak smiled and held Madhvi'd hand, 'It'k okay Aunty, aapke maan main job hi hai, aap keh sakti hai...'

'I know... I am so happy you and Shaan have become friends, I worry for him so much...'

'I can see that.'

Madhvi laughed, 'ya I guess I overdo it sometimes, but... Shantanu had always been so... secretive, always having things he won't share with anyone. Akshay is a open book, Shantanu on the other hand...' Madhvi went and sat on the chair, Khanak followed her, ' He even as a child, wouldn't open easily, and his happy-go-lucky nature masks that side of him brilliantly! But I am his mother and I know.'

'Everyone is secretive to a certain extent.'

'yes, but ever since Sunil's heart attack, Shantanu changed so much, he became serious and well- a workaholic! I want him to find someone, because I hope he will share those burdens he carries on his shoulders with his love. I want him to relax, to be happy, free like he used to be...'

Khanak smiled at Madhvi, feeling happy for Shan, that he has a fantastic mother, but also a tad bit jealous that Shaan had a wonderful mother, and she couldn't remember much of her mother, except of course some of the crazy outings she took Khanak on, waking her up in the middle of the night, for long drive to Shimla, or some other place-

'beta?'

Khanak looked at Madhvi, 'sorry...I just didn't sleep much last night. Work.'

'It's fine...'

'you were saying?'

'that I want a bit of my Old Shantanu back, the one who was secretive, but not so secretive- It's like he thinks the whole family's responsibility is in his shoulders! He is so close to Sunil, his father's heart attack really shook him- Aisha was the only one with whom he shared everything!'

'Aisha?' his ex- girlfriend, thought Khanak, his only serious relationship.

'ya. They were dating in college,' Madhvi laughed at the recollection of the first time Shantanu had come back love stricken from college, ' Shantanu used to joke that Aisha will be his wife-y!'

Khanak smiled, but felt a little weird, he never told me he was that serious about her, she thought.

'but well- anyway, I just want to thank you for being such a good friend of his! Beta since you in his life, Shantanu gets out of the office at some-what normal hours! Warna ek time par toh he had practically moved into his office!'

Khanak laughed, 'really?!'

'ya, his toothbrush, clothes, shoes, socks everything was in the office, stored in this spare closet in his office! But now Sunil tell me he gets out by nine-ten! Trust me, his assistant is your HUGE fan!'

They laughed.

'aap dono kya baatein kar rahi hai?'

'nothing, much, just about clothes...' Madhvi lied.

'anyway lunch ready hai... come on both of you!' urged Shantanu.

The women got up and went inside, but Khanak felt strange throughout, the meal, because an idea kept coming to her mind...

::::::

'hello, sorry I am late!' Tashu looked at Khanak, who was staring towards her right.

'hello!' Tadhu waved her hand infront of Khanak's face.

'uh?!'

'koi hot banda hai kya?'

'nahi, I was just thinking...'

'what?'

'about something...'

'what Khanak! just spill the freaking beans already!'

'Shantanu and Aisha.'

'Aisha? I have heard that name...'

'Shaan's ex.'

'Oh ya! Rohan bata raha tha, they both were quite serious is college.'

'yup.'

'Shantanu told you?'

'Ya, why?'

'thank you, can I have water please, normal, and one cosmo.'

The waiter nodded and went away.

'what were you asking?'

'why did you ask, "Shantanu told you?"'

'ya, woh Rohan told me, Shantanu was quite serious about her, but... they had a big falling out and Shaan was quite upset over the whole thing, then they broke up, and Shan never likes talking about it.'

'what happened?'

'No one knows, except Shaan and Aisha.'

'hmm...'

'Khanak -what you up to?'

'nothing...'

'please I can read you like a book! So...'

'I think... I have a feeling that Aisha is ... probably the reason Shaan is so commitment phobic.'

'so?'

'so! I mean-uh- if it's true then we should help him... probably he isn't over her.'

'oh my god ! Khanak Kapoor! No!'

'but.'

'Khanak no, please you will just dig up buried corpses and open old wounds for him!'

'i know, I know, but it fits, I remember the night we I asked him about Aisha, he just- he was a little... evasive, i feel.'

'Khanak no! We are going to Goa next week, please don't do this, you are most probably wrong, 'cause you know zilch about Aisha and his relationship, and you might hurt him if you talk to him about it! And ruin the holiday'

'but what if I am right? What if he is still hurt about it!'

'well then it's his problem, and if he wants our help he will ask!'

'Ya I guess you are right and what are the odds, of us being right anyway?'

'exactly! Thank you! Now promise you you won't talk about her with him.'

'I won't but I will if he talks about her with me.'

' okay, deal, if he talks specifically about the break up, then you talk otherwise keep your mouth shut!'

'done, lets order.'

'finally a brilliant idea!'

:::::

Shaan was typing non-stop on the laptop, finishing a presentation, when he stopped for a minute to stretch his back. He looked around his room, and saw coco sleeping peacefully on the rug, he smiled looking at her.

He went over to his drawer and fished for a document he had kept there earlier, but instead he found a key chain, he held it up. And stared at it, Mickey mouse's smiling face looked back at him. He had forgotten about the key chain, since the last six years, he had never seen it, until the day he was moving out, of his house, when he found it, buried under the stack of his old books. The smiling face of Mickey reminded him of his Aisha, who always had a smile on her face to. The only girl he had ever loved, truly loved... he didn't feel the way he had felt for her, for anyone else, the attraction, the undeniable pull '- except'... Khanak's face flashed across his face, he recalled the cold night in Shimla when he had kissed her. He smiled- except with Khanak, who is now my best friend, he thought. He stroked his thumb across the smiling Mickey face before he kept the key chain back. He closed the drawer after taking out the document, but he stood there for a second, or two, before taking a deep breath, 'sealed doors should remain so...'