*phew* FINALLY finished this one! i am NEVER going to write a Short story again! LOL! this part is much longer ANNNDD its the last! :) Hope you like it 😳
'One Woman' Man- Last Part!
Khanak moved her hand over Shaan's back slowly and tried to respond to the hug. Shaan felt Khanak's movements of hand and smiled inwardly. All of a sudden the Shaan's cell phone rang and they both jumped and moved apart. Khanak blushed and gazed at the carpet whereas Shaan thoroughly flustered went over to receive his phone. It was Natasha. Shaan didn't know why but he wanted Khanak to listen to every word of his conversation with Natasha. He put the phone on Loud speaker as Khanak heard Natasha squeal excitedly "Shaaaaaannnn! Hiii!" Shaan glanced at Khanak, who was staring into space before he said "Hi Natasha, what's up?"
" Shaan tumhay yaad hain na kal kya din hain?" Natasha said happily. Khanak's spirits dropped.
"Errrmmm---haaann---yaad hainnn---" Shaan replied extremely uncomfortable.
"Toh theek hain'kal subah office main miltay hain aur phir shaam ko meray ghar par!" Natasha's voice was palpable with excitement.
"Hmmm'.. okay Natasha'.Natasha suno'.woh mujhay dad bula rahay hain! I'll call you back!"
"That's okay! I have to go too! Shaannn?"
"hmmm?"
"'..I love you" Natasha's voice was soft. Khanak turned her back on the cell phone and pretended to be busy with the cupboard. She didn't hear Shaan's response. Shaan was quiet. She felt eyes on her back. She turned and looked straight into Shaan's eyes. And in the split second that their eyes met Shaan said,
" ''I Love you tooo". Khanak turned towards the cupboard again and felt her heart go heavy. She grabbed a towel, turned around, gave Shaan a small smile and rushed to the bathroom. Shaantanu's gaze followed her till she closed the door behind her.
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Shaan had a busy day at work the next day. Sunil had not only asked him to brainstorm the different Ad options but had also ordered him to prepare an analysis of the budget for it. Shaan had met Natasha just once in the office where she had smiled at him warmly and waived, rushing to her meeting. Shaan smiled back and thought about Natasha's fast, the fact that she had come to office even though she was fasting warmed his heart. She really WAS a good friend, he thought. Did I just think 'friend'!? He asked himself. I must be losing it. TOO much work! Urghhh
As evening approached Khanak's stomach rumbled with hunger. She went over to the box which had 12 frames of dashing Shaan in them, picked one up, pouted and said "Burthal! Waisay yay main sirf DADI kay kahnay par kar rahee hoon! Mujhay koi shauk nahi hain appky liyaay vrath raknay ka!" she pouted again and even as she said it she knew it was not true. She looked at the watch and saw that 5 PM was approaching "Hayay Raam! Mujhay toh apna assignment bhee karna hain! Aur abhee tuk main tayyar bhee nahi hui!" she said to the empty room. Hurriedly getting up, she opened the cupboard and took out a flowy red sari for herself, which was quite plain except for the shiny embroidery on the border. Hurriedly jotting down a few lines for an assignment, making a mental note to ask Rishi (bha) to help her out with it just before class, she made her way to change.
"Hari bha, main chattt par ja rahee hoon wahan apnay sub cheezain rakh toh dee hain naa?" a stunning Khanak told Hari at 6 in the evening.
"Haan maam'..llaikin aaj chand toh nazar aana mushkil hain'.halki bearish horahee hainnn" Hari replied.
"koi baat nahi! AAP us ski fikar muth karay''Aray sunayyyy Hari Bha?!! Ek extra table rukh dain chattthh par! Aur sunayyyyy!! Woh meray kamray main ek dabba hain uss main Shaantanu kee tasweerain hain'..woh lay ana! JALDIII! Theek hain?!" Khanak said frantically.
"Laikin tasweeer toh EK hee chahiyay hoti hain na?" Hari asked confused.
"Oho Hari bha! Woh kya kahtay hain angreziiii main? HAAANN! 'Mind your own bujinesss! Pleeje ub jaldi karay na Hari bha!"
Hari left half annoyed, half amused as Khanak made her way to the top most terrace of the house.
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Shaan looked up from his laptop and saw the time. It was 6 pm already. Just then Natasha entered the room and gave a smile to Shaan.
"Errr''should we leave? Aren't you getting late? Tayyar nahi hona kya? Aaarti and Pooja ki thaali and all that stuff?" Shaan asked trying to sound interested.
"Huhh? Aarti? Very funny Shaan! Mera mazaak ura rahay ho?" Natasha said teasingly."Shaan I'm so excited! We're getting this contract after so much hard work! Dad has really worked hard on this! We truly deserve this party!"
Shaan looked at her confused. "Konsa contract? Kya Party? What are you saying?"
"Saxena Corporation ka project Shaan kya hogaya hain! Jis kee ajj party hain!" Natasha looked even more confused.
"Laikin main toh Karwa Chauth kay liyay tumharay ghar araahaa tha!! Tumhara vrath turwaanay" Shaan said disbelievingly.
"Karwa Chauth?!" Natasha looked uncomfortable. "Shaan----wohh mainay tum ko kal message kiya tha! That I won't be able to fast for you this year----tumko message nahi mila kya?"
" I didn't get ANY message!" Shaan was starting to get angry now.
"Laikin Shaan?---" Natasha started but her voice died in her throat as she saw Shaan striding across the room, pull out the charger of his laptop, pack it, pick up his car keys and wallet and rush towards the door. Without looking at Natasha he hurriedly announced "I have to go! Will talk to you later".
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Khanak set all the 12 frames of Shaantanu on the table in descending order and laughed at her obsession to be organized. It was still drizzling and the moon was nowhere to be seen. As expected, netiher Madhvi nor Khushboo were fasting. Khanak was busy staring at Shaantanu's biggest picture when she was jolted by a "Hayaayy'..kuch logon ki kya KISMAT hain! Patni unn kee lambi umar kay liyay KYA KYA nahi karti!" Khanak turned around and saw Akshay standing their, hands folded, smiling at Khanak.
"Wohhh bha---" Khanak blushed.
"Khanak? Itnee sari tasweerain! I didn't know you were SO in love with my brother?!" Akshay teased.
Khanak was saved from the agony of answering as Dadi came along. "Khanak itni khoobsoorat lug rahi ho! Buss chand nikalnay hee wala hain! Baarish bhee ruk gaye hain ub toh"
"Dadi how do YOU know?! Chand kay saath setting kee hain kya aapnay?!" Akshay asked, " By the way Khanak you look beautiful!"
"Beta! Tumharay Dada kay liyay mainay buhat baar barish kay dino main vrath rakha hain!" dadi said, blushing.
Shaan hit the steering as he sped his car on the roads of Mumbai. "Damn!" he thought. "How could I be SUCH a jerk?! Khanak has been hungry for me the WHOLE day and I didn't even CALL her!" he hit the steering again. He was annoyed! Not a t Natasha for ditching him, nor at Sunil for drowning him in work, nor even his brother who had taken the day off work. He was annoyed at himself. Annoyed that he had let his brain take over his heart at that moment that Khanak had asked him if he was going to go to Natasha's. He was mad that he himself was not using the motto of his life "Listen to your heart".
He searched the skies for the moon, hoping against hope that Khanak had not broken her fast. It was time for it to come out already. He never thought he would see a day when he'd be looking for the moon in the sky, or rushing home to make his wife open her fast, or hell even USE words like "aarti" and "pooja" (except for names of girls!) But he was! That was the effect Khanak had on him! She made him discover the true Shaantanu Khandelwal.
"Khanak!! Who raha chanddddddd!! " Dadi exclaimed. "Jaldi say chand dekho, Shaan kee tasweer dekho aur vrath toro!"
"Laikin dadi mujhay BAARRAA pictures dekhnee hain!" Khanak said tensed.
"Pagla gayee ho kya!"
"Relax Dadi!" Akshay interrupted. "Khanak main aisa karta hoon I'll pick up all the pictures one by one. You see the chand now, then you see one picture in my hand, then close your eyes I'll raise the second picture in front of you, then close your eyes and see the third picture and so on. Iss tarah tum ko baar baar chand ko aur picture ko nahi dekhna hoga fine?"
"Theek hain!" Khanak said happily. Hurriedly picking up the channi she looked at the moon in it before it disappeared in the clouds. Akshay raised a picture of Shaan ("Wow this picture is good! Isn't my bro handsome dadi?") and held it in front of Khanak. She saw Shaan's picture, blushed lightly and closed her eyes as Akshay raised the second picture.
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"This car is USELESS! Whay can't it become a plane?!" Shaan swore as he got stuck in traffic. "I can't even CALL her to tell her! She'll be on the terrace!" Just then his gaze fell on a roadside stall, where he saw the guy there making''
"Bhajiyaasss!! Oh God Bhajiyaas!" Shaan exclaimed. Getting out of his car, he rushed towards the man who was frying and asked him to give him'"Doh plate maangu kay Chaar? Khanak BUHAT khaati hain PAANCH theek hongay!' he thought. Grabbing the packed Bhajiyaas he threw a thousand rupess note in the guy's direction as the sounds of horns threatened him with murder. "I'm coming COMINGGG" he rushed, sat in his car and drove away.
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"Khanak this is the lamest thing I have EVER had to do! But I can't believe how much fun it is" Akshay laughed as he raised the tenth picture and saw Khanak close her eyes behind the strainer (channi).
"Bhaa'..aap mujhay dishturb lar rahay hain?" Khanak complained, eyes closed. Just then she felt warm fingers envelope her wrist. "Aray bha aapnay mera haath kyun pakar liya?" Khanak asked surprised, smiling. "Abhee sari twelve pictures nahi hue! Bhaaaa?!"
"Khanak kitnee baar kahna paray ga? Har Koi tumhara BHA nahi hota!" a voice that Khanak wanted to hear all day, whispered in her ear.
Khanak gasped, her eyes shot open and a wide smile spread across her face as she saw Shaan stand right there, in front of her, grinning! "Shaantanuuuuuu!! Aaappppppp!!?"
"Haan why look at Perfect pictures when the PERFECT man himself makes an entry!" said Shaan.
"Aray! Aap apni tareef karna bundhh karay aur mujhay kuch khilaayayy! Buhat bhhook lagi hainnn" Khanak whined.
And so the rituals were performed. Khanak took Shaan's blessings inspite of his repeated attempts to explain to her that this was all "old fashioned" and when they were coming down the stairs Shaan thrust the packet of Bhajiya in Khanak's hand saying "Second and LAST time! Now EAT up!" and marched away to the dinner table, leaving an excited Khanak desperately trying to open the packet and devour the stuff in it.
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Khanak sat on the swing in her room's balcony still in her red sari, letting the light drizzle fall on her face reliving the moment five hours ago. Shaan had come home! He had come home when she had wanted him to be there the most! She smiled. Just then Shaan entered "God Khanak it's raining! Andar Aoo! Aur by the way tumnay kal kay assignments kar liyay?"
Khanak got up and stood near the railing. Shaan joined her . Somehow it felt heavenly to be getting wet in the rain when Khanak was around.
"I'm asking you something!" Shaan said, and even in his impatience he noticed that Khanak looked heavenly when she had drops of water all over her face.
"Kar liya----Thora sa bacha hain---wohh main rishi say pooch loongi" Khanak said without paying attention and saw Shaan scowl.
"Rishi Bhaiyaa" Khanak hit her head dramatically and corrected herself. Shaan immediately smiled, shook his head and said "Tum paagal ho jaanti ho na tum?"
Khanak pouted. "Waisay'..aj kay liyay thank you. Aaap nay bataya nahi ----aap Natasha jee kay paas kyun nahi gayay?" Khanak asked carefully
"Uss nay vrath nahi rakha tha" Shaan said simply placing his hands in his pockets. Khanak said nothing.
"Waisay ek baat bataaoon? Baaraaa main say AATHH tasweerain thee jis main aap muskuara NAHI rahay thay! " she changed the topic sensing something wrong " Kyun? Aap mukuraatay huay achay lagtay hain! Wohhh kya kahtaay hain? DIM-PULS haan aapkay dimppuls nazar aatatay hain!"
Shaan simled broadly, his dimples fully showing. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Shaan asked surprised.
"Because you are a nice person" Khanak said in English and blushed deeply.
Shaan raised his eyebrows and laughed. "Kyaaa?! Aap mera mazaaak ura rahay hain?!!" Khanak said flustered. "Ek toh main app kay liyay saray DIN bhooky rahi! Aur AAAP! Hanss rahay hain!"
"Rehnay doh haan Khanak!"Shaan teased. "Mujahy pata hain tumnay chupkay say kitchen main say khana chura kar kha liya hoga! Apni shaadi kay din bhee tum nay yay hee kiya tha! Mithaii khaa rahi thee yaadd hain?! Upwaas tor rahee theee! Wohh toh MAINAY aakar tumko bacha liya tha!" Shaan said, still laughing, not noticing that the expression on Khanak's face had become somber. Realization hit him soon enough. But not quite. Khanak turned around to leave and Shaan sensing her movement got hold of her pallu. Just then Khanak slipped, held on to Shaan's shirt to balance herself but made Shaan slip in the process too, both of them landing together on the swing, Shaan on top of Khanak.
Shaan gazed at Khanak's wet face, her wet hair, her wet lips. Khanak lowered her gaze and gave Shaan a little shove half heartedly. His hand moved from her elbow to her shoulder. Khanak shivered at his slow touch. He looked deep into Khanak's eyes again trying to meet them. He finally did. And at that moment when their eyes met Shaan took his decision. He was going to listen to his heart at last.
He moved his face closer to Khanak's, still not losing the eye contact. His lips were an inch away from Khanak's moist ones, when Khanak gripped his shoulder tight and closed her eyes. As if that was the cue to go ahead Shaan's lips touched the corner of Khanak's lips. They lingered there as if they needed a further confirmation to go ahead. Shaan wanted Khanak to show SOME reaction! Push him back if it came to that. Just then Khanak's head moved sideways, such that Shaan's lips were able to completely envelope hers. He had got his final call. Khanak wanted to kiss him as much as he wanted to kiss her. But was Khanak also listening to her heart? He didn't want to ruin it. He kissed her slowly on the lips and heard her sigh but not reciprocate. It didn't stop him. His kiss deepened and finally he felt Khanak respond to it, both her hands now hugging Shaan. The swing started swinging; because of the strong wind and rain or because of their passionate kiss, they both didn't know. All they knew was that this felt right.
A stroke of lightening traveled through the sky, jolting both of them as they broke apart. Khanak finally pushed Shaan , got off the swing and rushed to the room, a blank expression on her face.
"Khanak" said Shaan but she didn't stop. Shaan sat straight on the swing, passed his hand between his hair and sighed. Khanak sat on her bed and kept saying to herself "Yay theek nahi hua yay theek nahi hua". She hugged herself and recalled the kiss. It was the most blissful thing she had EVER experienced. It was her first kiss EVER and perhaps her last. For Shaantanu only belonged to Natasha jee, she kept telling herself sadly.
"Khanak?" Shaan had come inside. He went over to Khanak, who flinched slightly and didn't meet his eyes. "Err Khanak''Errr''Khanak I'm sorry! Jo kuch hua wohhh-----dobara nahi hoga----It won't happen again-------I promise----Khanak?" Shaan didn't even know why he was doing this. Why he was making it sound as though what happened was a mistake. All he knew was that Khanak was uncomfortable. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that he was there with her whenever she needed him, as a friend, husband, as a soulmate, as ANYTHING she wanted him to be! But he wanted to do it slowly. For he had indeed realized that he had fallen in love with her. He NOW knew who his 'One Woman' was------
"Khanak-----this won't happen again" he repeated seriously, holding her shoulders "I promise".
"Hmmm", Khanak managed.
Kiseee Maha purush nay kaha hain kay Ek Promise torna---- toh bunta hain BOSSS!" Shaan grinned inwardly.
Edit:
- When i say Shaan didn't get Nattie's message it doesn't mean that some evil scheming person deleted it from Shaan's phone. It means the signals were weak because of the weather and hence the message didn't get delivered.
- When i say swing it is NOT the swing that only one person sits on, the bachon wala, it's the swing which is like the traditional, from the Mughal era walay, you know na jiss main 2 to 3 people can easily sit. 😆
Edited by tofeeees - 14 years ago
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