Bigg Boss 19: daily Discussion Thread- 1st Sept 2025.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki: Episode Discussion Thread - 26
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 01 Sep 2025 EDT
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Sept 2, 2025 Episode Discussion Thread
UMAR KHAYID 1.9
ABHEERA IN JAIL 2.9
Bacha chor is such an incompetent lawyer🤦♀️
What’s the upcoming track??
Mrunal Thakur Called Mean Girl
In this gen Cliff wali legacy maut will not happen
I wanted Abheera’s fate for Akshara
Janhvi Kapoor In Talks For Chaalbaaz Remake
Happy Birthday wat_up 🎂
Jee Le Zaraa Is Happening
Celebs pictures during Ganesh Festival
Real Woman Power Farhana
Manita darling...wow wow wow....Loved it loved it loved it!!!!
Shantanu had returned to India after 2 years. Since last 5 years, he had been studying in New York and finished his studies with post graduation in Business management. He didn't come home in last 2 years but utilized his vacations learning a lot of other things, some of which were his hobbies and some his passion. He gained experience and traveled a lot. So, finally he was here, back to India, after a long time.
"I am so happy that my son has coming back...we are throwing a huge party..." said Madhavi on the dining table.
"No, mom please. I am already tired and have jetlag...I am going to sleep off again ……..and no party please," Shaan requested.
"We have already invited our friends and everyone at office too is excited to see you back. Relatives are dying to meet you and friends have lined up with marriage proposals of their classy daughters for my son." Madhavi was excited to inform.
"What? Marriage?...No...Not so soon." He declared.
"Why? Everybody has to get married. You have completed your studies, will be joining business from Monday...it's high time, that we start looking for prospective brides for you...or if you have someone in your life, then we don't mind." Madhavi tried to know if he had a steady affair ready to be culminated into a forever bond.
"No, mom………...I am single."
"Awww……...come to party tonight...you won't regret."
"Mom, please…..."
"Listen beta, you will meet many people tonight," intervened Sunil, "There will be business partners, friends……many girls. One of our friend and business partner Mr. Sharma's daughter is also coming tonight...we all love her a lot. She has helped us many times in business presentations and meetings. When Mr. Sharma discussed this proposal with us...all of us were elated. Obviously, we won't force you, but I think you should meet her …….."
"Dad...aap bhi shuroo ho gaye,..." Shaan was disgusted.
"Ek baar milne mein kya buraai hai?"
"But I am just not thinking of marriage…." He protested without any hope.
Madhavi and Sunil left to take care of the party preparations……leaving the brothers on the table.
"Bhaiya,...I am screwed up...what to do now?"
"Chotey, just meet her once...she is good….her name is Khanak."
"Why? I don't understand, why should I meet any random girl…….. out of the blue... Firstly, I don't want to get married now...not before I am 30 years old...I have made a deadline for myself……...I have much more to explore than get married and romance my wife. Secondly, I will never marry without love...No way !!!!"
"Okay, it's no big deal...so you don't get married to her……..just meet her and tell us that you don't like her...dad and mom will never force you……..."
"I know that ………...but this will be so bad...No, I don't think it is right !"
"So, just talk to her in a friendly way and tell her that you are not ready for marriage. She will understand and won't be hurt…….."
"Slightly better idea..." he murmured thinking about it.
In the evening, Shantanu did not take pains to get ready for the party. While Akshay and Sunil wore suits, he wore a black shirt and blue jeans. He always believed in dressing as he felt like and today was no different. He didn't want to get ready like already prepared to head to the altar.
Madhavi and Khushboo visited the beauty parlour before the party, and as Sunil ordered their driver to pick up some relatives from the airport, they realized at the last moment, that they did not have a driver and car and asked Sunil to send someone. Finally, Shantanu went to pick both of them from the parlour.
There was huge traffic on the roads and they became a little late while returning back. Sunil was mad at them and Madhvi and Khushboo rushed inside followed by Shaan.
The party was huge and rocking. The family made Shantanu meet a lot of business partners, friends, their daughters…………. so much that Shantanu was finally fed up.
"Shaan, I have forgotten my cell phone in the car...can you please bring it?"
"Sure Bhabhi..." he was more than elated to move out from there.
As he headed for the parking space...the darkness increased and the lights and noise of sound faded. He felt much better now and relieved from the suffocation that the crowd offered. He never wanted to pick up bhabhi's phone and go back to the party……...so he opened the car, took the phone and strolled around for a few minutes in the parking lot and on a secluded small road adjoining it. He didn't want to go inside, for the fear of meeting the unknown stranger……. threatening to be his wife. Meeting a girl and then behaving irresponsibly by saying 'no' to her... would be so cheap, he thought. He was principally against such arrangements.
He was very far from the party hall and felt peaceful here. It started drizzling and he enjoyed the water droplets and slowly, the size of droplets increased to an extent that it gained the capacity to wet anyone. He had generally disliked getting wet but today he didn't know why, but he felt like soaking himself in the rain. He was in Mumbai rain after 2 years...and he stood there, feeling it all over him.
Suddenly, he felt a strong presence around his left side...and as he turned subtly, he saw a shadow and a red odhani following it to a small shade…...he considered it to be his illusion and returned to his reverie……..he closed his eyes and turned up his face towards the sky to feel the showers on his face.
"Hey, what are you doing?" the shadow could speak. He turned towards the voice, startled by the sudden break in his spell, only to get into another one……..while a hand with fine, delicate fingers wrapped around his wrist and dragged him towards it. He couldn't speak anything and was numb to react as he saw the hand drag him towards a small shade by the end of the parking space.
"What are you doing? It is raining...you'll get wet and fall ill."
He was dumbfounded at the interaction. She must have been around, while he strolled and he hadn't noticed her. She ran immediately as it started raining and he wasn't sure why she made him come with her. He still wasn't able to see her face clearly, as she had turned all her hair on one side and ran fingers through them to keep them dry. Her red chiffon odhani swayed in breeze touching him in between and leaving him stunned more. He had felt her fingers on her wrist and they were soft, very soft, yet so firm...burning on touch. Her voice was like millions of musical instruments playing in coherence.
Shaan, focus !!...why are you so mesmerized? You have been with girls before !!
He turned away and looked in the other direction. It had started raining heavily, and it was impossible to walk away without getting completely drenched…...they were saved due to the small shade, good enough for two and well covered;
He looked back at her and was surprised to find her looking at him. He was 'taken' by her eyes...black, doe-shaped, deep...captivating !! He tried not to look at her directly and looked away once again, trying to deviate his attention.
He realised that it was the parking lot...for his party……...so, who is she? he thought.
"Did you come for this party?" he asked trying to act casual.
"Of course ! My dad brought me to this 'boring ' party..."
"Is it boring?" he was not very happy on listening to this, but still liked her honesty.
"It is...believe me. All such parties are boring, especially this one..."
"And, what is so specially boring about it?"
"Don't you know?...Sunil uncle's son has returned from US...now explain it to me, that when someone returns from America, why should I be so excited?"
"True...exactly," he said wondering, "And when, even he doesn't know anyone here at all……."
"That's what………..," she said opening up, "but dads don't understand. How easily you could understand what I felt...but these oldies……..they never listen, never understand, force you to meet people you have never seen or met...and hope that you will get married to them...it sucks."
"You too...??" he asked surprised.
"You mean to say...is the same with you ??" she broke in a beautiful laughter reaching her eyes, spreading across all over her face and made him smile too.
"Yeah..." he laughed with embarrassment.
"I get it…...these parties, you know...we should re-name them as marriage bureaus."
He just laughed at this.
"I mean it...all they talk of is that how to increase business and how to hook one's daughter with other's son. Gosh !!! they should get a life..."
He had been with many women before...he had girlfriends in New York...but she was something else. He had never talked so openly, like this, to a stranger before. He was completely smitten by her.
"Exactly...so that is what made you loiter around here?" he was enjoying talking to her.
"Yeah...just like you...I was trying to avoid this party, this match making and that Shantanu Khandelwal."
"What?? Why him?"
"He is the one who I am supposed to meet..." she answered as a matter of fact.
"Have you seen him before?" he asked softly, trying to judge her.
"Never...and I don't want to see him too…….."
"Why?" he was disappointed……forgetting that even he was avoiding meeting her.
"I can't get married to him…...am not going to meet him. Why meet someone, who I clearly, don't want to get married to…..."
"Any specific reasons...?"
"Why should I tell you...?"
"Because 'I' am Shantanu Khandelwal..."
"Omggg..." she put her hand on her face.
"Yes,...I am 'The Shantanu' who is the host of this 'boring' party, who came from New York , yesterday and is responsible for troubling so many people to make them feel excited…. 'just because he came back' and the person who your dad wanted you to meet..."
She twitched her lips and ran her tongue on her dry lips between a very embarrassed smile.
"Alright...so 'you' are Ms. Khanak...'The Much-hyped Khanak' ...who everybody in my family is crazy about...".he spoke in a jovial tone and smiled.
"I am so sorry for all that I spoke……please forgive me….…." She said and pouted.
"Only, on one condition..."
"And that is……"
"You have to tell me that why were you strolling here to avoid meeting me...I mean, why were you avoiding me...??"
"But then, even you were lurking out here and you accepted just now, that even you didn't want to meet me..."
"I have my reasons…..and I will tell you that...but it started with you..." (he didn't have any reasons now, he just wanted to be with her, was completely besotted by her…. ...she had overpowered his thoughts…….. everything…...)
"Okay...I don't believe in marrying someone I don't love……..and actually, I like someone else..." she blushed again taking away all colour from his face. He looked at her with blank expressions on his pale face and tried to hide his disappointment.
He was just hurt at ego, he thought, and couldn't possibly fall for her in so less time... they had just met. He had been with a lot of women, some of which he found interesting and many of them found him interesting.
He was always confident of himself. He had everything that a girl looked for, when considering a man……But here she was, least perturbed by his persona…….he had never been rejected so outrightly.
Is it rejection that is hurting me? Or something else? He shrugged to himself, trying to shrug off the disappointment. For the first time, he had liked someone instantly, and she liked someone else……
"Who is the lucky guy?" he said…..he didn't know why he did not like it !!!
"First you tell, your reasons..."
"I have just returned from America, have lots of dreams to achieve………I want to settle myself professionally and I don't want to get hooked so soon...not before 30." He said recalling the earlier reasons, which seemed shallow now. He so wanted to be around her…….of course, he wasn't sure about the marriage thing…..
"Oh God !! Do guys think like that?"
"I don't know about all guys, but most of us think like that…...and men are generally commitment –phobic, so they tend to push marriage as far as they can………"
"I am trying to understand…."
"Why? Why are you trying to understand?"
"To understand men in general……."
"So who is the lucky guy?" he repeated the question.
"He works as a Senior manager in your company…..his name is Suraj," she spoke slowly and he noticed that she hesitated while talking about him.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone……so since how long have you been with him…?"
"It's nothing. I came to your office a few times and liked him. I just like him, he doesn't know…."
"So you are not in a relationship?? You like someone from one-side !!" he saw a ray of hope, hiding a smile.
What?? Shaan what are you thinking...it's not even half an hour since you met her...
"Hell ! no, it's not a relationship…...I like him...since I came to your office ...I lost my senses when I saw him."
He felt bitter again, hearing her sigh on Suraj. He had loads of girlfriends but had never felt this way...and she wasn't even his girlfriend…...
He realized that he needed to go away and more than that, he needed a drink !!
The rain had stopped and they started walking, he walked faster and she almost followed him, trying to keep pace with him.
"Shantanu Khandelwal...will you help me?" she called when she was a little behind due to wet grass.
"Help? In what?" he turned back and asked.
"See, you just told me what you feel about marriage...may be there are so many gestures and things that I don't know or understand about Suraj...can you help me figuring out what he thinks?"
"Why should I help you?" he shrugged.
"Because friends always help each other..."
"Friends?... We have just met..."
"So what...there is something that clicks…..it doesn't need time. And you know, there is a 'connect' between two people. Either it is there or not………..the way we could connect immediately told me that we will make great friends." She smiled.
He smiled back and did not answer her. They were about the reach the party hall when she turned to him and made him stand too.
"So, you tell me……will you help me?"
"What am I supposed to do?" he said, giving up. He just knew that he wanted her to keep talking to him. And this feeling made him feel helpless. He had never imagined that he will ever behave like that with a girl.
"For start……tell your parents that you like me and we have decided to get married."
"What ?"
"See, you don't want to get married for next 4-5 years…..this will save both of us from meeting further any prospective suitors for us and give me time too……"
"But………….I don't think it is good to …….." he spoke but was interrupted.
"Listen, what they do is no good either. My dad will pester me and will try to find another groom for me……if you refuse. Please…….."
He felt a pang somewhere deep down in his heart and knew it was an unusual feeling. Even he did not want her dad to look for any other boy for her.
"Alright…….I am with you……"
"Thanks………" she was elated.
As decided, they told their parents that they met each other in the party and liked each other. The only difference was that Shantanu meant what he spoke. He had really liked her and given a chance, he would have considered her for something serious. He had been clean bowled by her.
She joined their office again, in an attempt to see Suraj and meet him. Shantanu had not met Suraj yet, but never knew that he would be so uncomfortable and angry at someone without even meeting him. He hated even the name of Suraj.
She used to come everyday to the office and sit with him for a long time, chatting in between work. They talked a lot and he constantly tried to shun her thoughts away from his system. The more he tried, the more he failed.
They usually went for coffee and lunch together and she made him speak more than he usually did. He met her at office in the daytime and dreamt about her at night. After coming from NY, he did not make even a single female friend or girlfriend. It wasn't that he was abnormal, but he didn't get attracted to someone after her…….knowing very well that he needed a life and she was trying to woo Suraj.
"Shantanu, I don't know what to do?" she said once, twitching her lips.
"Why don't you just go and tell him?" he said irked at her, though he never wanted her to do this and later regretted even suggesting this, as she took it seriously.
"I always thought that there is no need to tell someone, that you like him……people understand themselves. And there is no place for verbal confession."
"It is important, believe me," he said, thinking about his own condition, "people might not understand unless you tell them. Even if they do, there may be doubts…..we are all humans…..vulnerable to insecurities, hurt……even if he understands, he might not be able to make the first move……someone has to do it."
"So, you think there is a need to say 'I love you'……"
"I don't think there is always a 'need'………..no there is no 'need'…….but if you do it, especially in initial stages……..it makes the other person feel wanted, loved, treasured ………gives him confidence that you value him and keep him above others………you can say it 'only' 'if' you feel it for someone……….and if you really love someone…… …I think saying it kind-of 'seals the deal'….…." he spoke like a true businessman.
He was not sure what he himself felt for her, but it was definitely not friendliness, he was sure of that. She was on his mind 24*7……..he dreamt of her…..he missed her when she was late and dreaded that she might not come that day………he loved hearing her talk… ….he loved sharing his own feelings, his experiences with her……..he loved just being with her even without speaking when they seriously worked together……..he wanted to share everything he had with her……..he wanted to hold her……touch her…..feel her… ……kiss her…….!!
He shuddered at the thoughts and shrugged them off when he saw her sitting in front of him and looking at him amused as he was staring at her lost in her thoughts. He wondered if he should follow his own advice and tell her about his condition before she did.
Maybe she gave him a chance, considered him and found him better than Suraj….
Have I fallen in love with her? Is it love? But how…….no it must be a physical attraction and I am getting more crazy because she is the first one in this world to reject me…..she didn't even look at me properly and was always lost in Suraj's world. It hurt my ego……it's simply an ego fight………it might not be love…… he told himself and once again tried to shun away her thoughts from his mind.
He advised her regarding many things that she could do to impress Suraj, and regretted immediately every time after he spoke. His life had started becoming a mess and his mind and heart became out of his control, not listening to any of his commands. He felt helpless.
He was trying to concentrate on a file on his desk when he heard a knock on the door and saw her entering inside. She wore a blue chiffon saree with her silky hair let loose on her shoulders, minimal makeup, small ear-rings and a few bangles on her wrist. She looked divine and breathtakingly beautiful.
He sighed and tried to control his heart from racing fast. She came and sat in front of him.
"How do I look?" she finally asked.
"You look gorgeous….." he said trying to appear casual and unaffected, focusing on the file.
"Didn't you say, that men liked women in sarees…….do you think it is good?"
"Of course, it is……you look amazing….." he still avoided looking at her directly or she would have read what his eyes spoke.
"Thanks……" she blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear.
He tried not to stare at her.
"So, do you think, if I go and talk to him, he will be attracted……?"
"Maybe, he is already attracted to you and is not able to tell you…….."
"Didn't you say that day…. that it is important to tell………?"
"I did…….but not everyone is able to tell what he feels, it depends on circumstances too."
"Shantanu, I am trying my best to make the circumstances favourable, even then if someone is not able to speak, it is his fault……"
"Why don't you say?"
"Can a girl say first?"
"Yes, Of course………..we live in 21st century. Girls can do anything…..and when it comes to liking someone……why not?" he stood up from his chair and came towards her side and spoke leaning on the desk.
"If I speak first, will he be able to understand? Won't he think that I am some cheap, desperate kind of female……"
He hated to hear anything like that for her, "Not at all. Everyone knows you……you are so genuine and upfront. You are not saying it to everyone, just to one person……and if he really knows you, he will understand……"
"If a girl came to you and told you how much she loves you……" she whispered, stood up looking at his eyes and asked innocently.
He didn't answer and was disturbed by her presence as she had unknowingly come very close while getting up from her chair.
He looked at her face and his eyes dropped to her lips that he had been obsessing over since past one month. Even after trying hard to control himself, he was not able to listen to his mind and leaned forwards, where she was hardly a step away, and kissed her. Her lips were softer than he had imagined and she gasped lightly out of shock but did not break it. He slipped his arms around her slender waist taking her in an embrace and she slowly slid her hands behind the nape of his neck taking his hair between her fingers. He brought her much closer that she could feel his heart beats and quivering lips over hers. Millions of sensations went through her and she could feel her spine aching, her mind ringing and her neck stiffening in an attempt to stay attuned to him, as she kissed him back. Her heart raced and her willpower clouded for several minutes when all they could feel was each other. He left a trail of kisses when he moved away from her lips to her cheek, her eyes, her forehead and his hands cupped her face after finding it difficult to stay at her waist. He moved himself away to look at her face, her eyes were closed and she shivered with trembling lips.
He felt like saying that how much he loved her but stopped himself. She could feel his heavy breath on her face and was about to say something when someone knocked at the door. They composed themselves within a few seconds and while he ordered the person out side to come in, she walked away slowly, without even looking back at him.
A few papers were about to be signed. He did that and sent the unwanted visitor back. After that he tried hard but couldn't concentrate on work. He couldn't keep her out of his mind.
So, he told Akshay that he was leaving and took the half day off to go home. On his way out, he saw Suraj in his cabin working seriously and secretly envied him.
He spent the whole day remembering her. And decided that he 'needed' to tell her what he felt about her. He didn't want her to think of him as a guy who tried to take advantage of a female in a weak moment and shuddered at the thought of her hating him. He knew that she would be really angry at him right now, but she should know how much he loved her and for him she was more precious and special than anything else in his life. He was now sure that he was in love with her and genuinely felt the need to be with her all the time.
But, the possibility of her being upset at him made him nervous.
Should he forget it…..and ask her to forget it too !! Should he wait for her to respond.
She had not called him or talked to him since morning.
His mind was just not responding correctly as he was completely lost and without any clue, what he should do…..
After that 4 days passed and there was no news from her. Shantanu became really anxious about her well being and also whether she was upset at him. She had to be really angry as he had behaved in such an immature way. He had kissed her in his office. She had trusted him and talked to him non-stop for so many days and all he could do was become physical with her. He felt let down by himself and extremely miserable.
He realized that he had to talk to her and apologise and maybe will never tell her that he loved her or maybe he would……he wasn't able to decide.
Apologising was something definite which he had decided……so he thought to proceed in that direction first.
He considered calling her but then thought that he should go and talk to her, even if it carried the risk of getting a slap from her, at least he should try to save whatever sweet relationship they had.
He called her……she picked up the phone.
"Khanak, it's me…."
"I know……" she spoke slowly.
"Where are you……" his words were cautiously measured.
"At my home……….where are you?"
"At the parking of your building…………I want to talk to you….."
"Come up…..'
"I can't talk in front of your parents….."
"No one is home……...they have gone to meet your parents….."
He parked his car and took the elevator. He couldn't judge anything from her voice and that made him feel more terrible. He knew that he had to apologise and if possible, tell her how he felt…..but all this seemed like a difficult project right now. The lift took ages to reach the tenth floor and he tapped his foot impatiently.
When he pressed the doorbell, she opened the door within a few seconds……She looked angelic in a light blue kurta and a loose white salwar……her hair were half-wet and there was a fresh lavender aroma around…..she appeared to have had a shower some time back and looked fresh and tempting.
He did not expect her to smile when she asked him to come inside, but she did and closed the door. He followed her inside but was completely speechless. Finally he gathered some courage to speak.
"How are you?"
"How do I look?" she spoke softly turning to look at him.
"Why did you not come to the office for 4 days?"
"Did you miss me?"
"Can you answer for an answer, why do you question back when you are supposed to answer?"
"Why are you asking the questions when you know the answers?"
"Are you always this stubborn?"
"Why do you want to know more about me?"
"I am going back…..……" he started to turn.
"No, you wanted to talk, right?"
"I can't……."
"I know you can….….." she said looking at him and added hopefully.
He saw a ray of hope again and couldn't guess why but he thought she knew what he wanted to say……he stopped where he was.
He walked towards her and stood maintaining a comfortable distance.
"I am sorry….."
"For what?" she asked.
"I kissed you that day……" he said after shrugging lightly.
"In that case, I should be saying sorry too….." she spoke looking at him.
"For what?"
"I kissed you back……"
The thought and the feeling that arose after remembering that kiss….sent shivers of thrill around him. He realized that she was right. She did kiss him back.
"But why? Why did you kiss me back?" he spoke confused.
"because, I wanted you to kiss me and was waiting for you to kiss me…."
"Me?"
"Yes, you ! I wore a pretty saree for you but it seemed as if you were completely unaffected."
"You wore it for me? But didn't you tell me that you wanted to impress 'him'.
"Dumbo…." She came closer and wound her arms around his neck and spoke softly, "If I wanted to impress 'him'…….I would have asked him…..not you."
"How do I know? You kept talking about him all the time….……"
"You couldn't see that though I kept talking about him, but I never tried to talk 'to' him……but I talked 'to' you……I spent time 'with' you……not him….."
"You asked what men liked……" he was completely confused.
"I meant…. 'you'……I wanted to know what you liked and did exactly that……but you were never affected….."
"I was…………I was affected……..severely….."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Why didn't 'you' tell me……. 'you' were playing games. I always thought you liked Suraj."
"How could I have said it? I had told you that I liked him……now after a few days if I say that Shantanu, I don't like him…..actually I like you…..what would you have thought about me. Moreover, I was not sure what you felt about me…….so there was always a fear of rejection, until you kissed……but you could have always said it……"
"How could I say it to a girl who kept talking of some other man…...by the way…… when did you realize that you like me and not him….."
"Always….." she shrugged and said casually.
"What?"
"Suraj was a small crush," she showed a small sign using her thumb and index finger, "and I always used his name to evade marriage…..but the day I first came to your office, I realized that I wanted to talk to you, sit with you and spend time with you…..I couldn't stay away from you but my mistake, had already taken Suraj's name, so couldn't say anything…..just kept thinking whether you felt the same…...and hoped for you to feel something and say it…….."
"Oh God…..you almost killed me…..you silly," he held her closely placing hands on her back.
"I was so nervous…….thought you will get me married to Suraj instead…..so interested were you in helping me……."
"Forget it……….I was nervous that you will get married to him and I won't be able to do anything."
"Never, I would have made you fall in love with me….."
"You didn't need to……….I was already in love with you……"
She blushed and closed her eyes tilting her chin to raise her lips inviting him and he simply obliged.
Khanak was packing her bags for the tour when Divya came running from outside and hugged her from her back. Divya was her cousin, her Mama's daughter, studying in class 12 and as enthusiastic and fun – loving as any 17 year old girl would be.
"Di, you are leaving? Have a nice time, haan?"
"Divya please….." Khanak shrugged and tried not to let her cousin's little mind wander in unseen crazy territories, "I am going for work dear…..I'll focus on that."
"Okay, I understand, what else can I expect from a boring person like you?" she teased her.
The sisters had a small teasing session and after that Khanak picked her bag and bid goodbye to her mama and mami and left for the tour to Panchgani, with her troupe.
Khanak was the only child of the Mittal's. After her mom's untimely demise, her dad remarried and relocated to Germany. Her mama (maternal uncle) brought her with him to take care of little 6 year old Khanak. She was with her mama since then. Though her mami never liked Khanak's coming to their house but a few days after Khanak stepped in their house, her mami received the good news that she had conceived. Her mama- mami had been a childless couple since 8 years now, and everyone said that this good news was due to positive vibes around Khanak. Mami gradually started tolerating Khanak, but her mama and now Divya loved her more than themselves.
Khanak took her small luggage and waited at the decided spot where the van was supposed to pick her up.
Shantanu had been sitting with ace photographer Vikram Behl and was discussing the photoshoot that was supposed to take place at Panchgani. After finalizing on a lot of things, Vikram stood up.
"Don't worry Shantanu, I will mail each and every detail to Khanak. You won't have any problem."
"Khanak?... a girl?" he raised his eyebrow mischievously.
"Didn't I tell you about my new intern. You have seen her work before..….."
"Yes, I remember…….the photographs was pretty impressive."
"She is very hard working and very talented. They will reach there by today evening as they will go by the van. You can drive and reach tomorrow, no issues about that…….I'll try to join you guys in 2-3 days….."
"I am fine……I trust you. If you have decided on someone to take care when you are here in an urgent work, then she must be good. And as you said that she is a girl……I don't mind at all…..." he smiled typically.
"Shantanu…….she is just not your type…..she will blow your senses out of you, if you try to mess with her……"
"Really? That's interesting……" he smirked.
In Panchgani, Khanak and the troupe reached on time and decided on some locations for the photoshoot. They were here for a video-shoot of a music video and the still-shoot for the same.
Shantanu was playing the lead…..he had a strong personality….he was handsome, was very much in demand, was good looking, stylish, had loads of attitude and innumerable girlfriends. Girls used to swoon over him and he never lost an opportunity to turn it in his favour. He changed girlfriends more often than his clothes…... And he was rather infamous for this one trait of him….. Khanak had been tired listening about him, his adventures, his girlfriends and Casanova image.
They all were put up in a small and quite hill resort at the outskirts of Panchgani. It was pretty and peaceful by every means of the word.
Khanak unpacked and set a few things in her room and looked out. It was usually dark very early in hill places like these and Panchgani was no different. It was hardly 6.30 and what she saw outside was darkness engulfing the woods and the few cottages around the resort. It was a secluded place nevertheless.
"Maybe I can manage a small walk before dinner. Then I'll sit at the net and jot down the instructions given by Vikram Sir…." She thought to herself.
The rest of the team and Shantanu were about to reach the next day so she had a night to formulate and prepare the necessary steps for the module.
She stepped out of her room and looked around. It was completely dark and quiet.
I really don't know where is everybody else. I need to find them too……
She had a walk around and felt much fresher. After that she finished dinner in the dining hall with everyone and retreated back to her room.
Everybody was put up in the ground floor. As, the first floor wing on left had only 3 rooms…..huge and spacious. 2 of them were allotted to Shantanu and Vikram Sir and hence were vacant today….. to be filled tomorrow and after 2 days….. The 3rd was her's in the extreme corner.
She walked thorough their rooms thinking about them.
Vikram Sir…..ever so understanding and helpful….hope he finishes the work and joins us soon. This type of shoot needs a lot of experience. Hope I do justice to his confidence in me.
As she passed through 'his' room…..Shantanu…..have only seen him till now on TV and newpapers. But the way people are getting excited, he must be a prominent personality. I really hope the interaction goes well and uneventful, he doesn't have a good reputation when girls are concerned. One more thing, someone said that he is arrogant and rude too sometimes……hope I don't get to see that side….otherwise it is going to turn really bitter for all of us.
She had always been the one who guarded her self respect like a treasure and had lost many opportunities because of her self-esteem, but she hardly bothered as long as she could keep her head held high. She could adjust and compromise on anything but not on her principles and character.
Lost in these thoughts, she reached her room and opened the gate. It was completely dark inside and she cursed herself for not letting the lights on before leaving. She closed the door slowly behind her and as she turned, an unknown hand in the dark pulled her in his arms.
Shocked at this, she opened her mouth to scream but a strong palm covered her mouth and now she was trapped with his one arm on her waist and the other hand covering her mouth. She still tried hard but the figure in the dark thrust her to the nearby wall and settled her leaning on the wall. His hand was still on her mouth and he whispered, "Ssshh, keep quiet. It's me."
The confidence in the voice said that he wasn't an intruder or a rapist. He expected her to know her, but who was he…..she could not move and was completely enveloped by him leaning on her with his weight on her that she could hardly breathe and his hand still on her mouth when he leaned further and kissed her cheek.
She closed her eyes and tried to control her heart beats while thinking of ways to get out of his hold. She tried to struggle again, only to be pressed more by him. She could feel his cheek with a stubble on her own soft cheeks as he moved towards her ear after kissing her cheek. She could smell his cologne and feel his skin…..feel his breaths on her cheek, her ear and his soft palm…much softer for a male, yet firm on her mouth…..but she felt this only for a while and was back to her 'self defense' mode.
"What happened? Why are you behaving as if you don't know me….." the husky voice spoke in her ear like a hot melted sugar syrup burning her from inside. She wished she was with this man in better circumstances…..not like this.
She nodded her head vigorously, once again with a little meek sound from her throat….making his palm tighter on her mouth.
"You wanna shout?….. It seems my hand is not good enough for you. Stay quiet, I'll remove my hand……….but only for better things……. I'm going to kiss you now."
She shivered and dreaded the next step…..the effect of this man on her was already overpowering, intoxicating…….was he really going to kiss her ? No !!!
She didn't even know who he was !!
She prayed hard as he came closer and let all her stiffness loosen out. She eased herself and stopped struggling and lay completely motionless so that he eased too. Her trick worked and his hold became softer as he came still closer towards her and as he was about to remove his hand to be replaced by his lips……she gathered all courage, lifted her left foot and tapped it strongly over his foot.
"Ouch…." He stepped a little away and she used all her force to push him and started to go out. As she reached for the latch, she realized that while she had pushed him, he had bumped into a small Almirah on the left of the wall and had hurt on his forehead, she would have hardly cared if he had not whined with a ….. "Shelly !!"
So, he thought that she was Shelly?….Ohh, she discovered the confusion. The room that they were in right now was originally booked for Shelly, the female lead.
She turned back. It was still dark and they couldn't see each other, "I am not Shelly….. were you thinking that I am Shelly?"
"What? Then, who are you……?"
"Are you hurt?" she asked slowly, still maintaining a comfortable distance and being near the door to make a safe exit when required. She however gathered that he had misunderstood her for Shelly and won't harm her now.
"Nah…it's okay ! I'll manage….." he moved towards the door.
"Shelly's room is downstairs…..2nd room from left….." she spoke softly, as he crossed her.
"I thought, this was supposed to be Shelly's room….." he voiced his doubt.
"It was……but this room is more secluded and she felt scared staying here alone. Rest of the two rooms on this floor are empty ….….."
He stood still for a minute and turned to lean back towards her and said in a deep baritone and flirtatious bent to his voice, "Don't 'you' feel scared?"
"Do you want another push?" she asked.
This question made him laugh and he didn't reply back.
"I am expecting a 'sorry' from you….." she said.
"I know that….……but I did not say it purposefully…….…as I am not." The last part was the huskiest, stirring her from within.
She locked the door from inside as he left with swift steps surprising her completely.
What kind of a man he was ?…..looking for Shelly first, later he started flirting with me…….
In this darkness and seclusion, he could have misbehaved and could have taken advantage ….but he didn't. He just left after he got to know that she was not Shelly…..
Hmm……she tried to stop thinking of him.
She was tired but had a lot of work. She changed and sat with her laptop and notes but in between every few minutes, she couldn't help but remember this small, strange meeting with a complete stranger and no matter, how hard she tried…she couldn't shun away his smell, the feel and his touch over her.
She finished her work and was off to sleep.
In the morning, she met everyone at the breakfast table downstairs. And with rest of them, she saw a new face…..very good looking and handsome…..she knew him and he was the one who she was supposed to work closely with…….Shantanu.
She could see a small band-aid on his forehead and smiled inwardly when someone mentioned that he had reached last night itself.
So, it was him, last night in her room…….Shantanu, the playboy and the Casanova…..
Serves him right…..she thought.
He looked up at her while they were being introduced and got to know that her room was next to his on the first floor. Their eyes met only for seconds, but as if they knew each other since ages…..and she couldn't guess what, but their eyes did talk to each other.
Slowly, the people drifted away to meet in an hour and move for the shoot of the video first.
She got up to get her coffee and saw that though he had finished…..he didn't go.
They were the only two left and he came to stand behind her.
"So, I was in your room?……...I hope you will not turn last night's fiasco into gossip news and use it to boost your ego."
She felt extremely insulted and though she cursed him heavily from inside……still, she turned to him and smiled, "Don't worry. Luckily, I am not in a profession, where I would need cheap publicity ….. my work speaks for me."
It was time for him to taste the dose of an insult. It crept on his face and she could see it very clearly, when he said, "Good for you……. as even if you tell people, no one is going to believe you….."
"Really? But, I thought you had a reputation of sorts with girls……people have already told me about you…..everyone knows you….."
"People must have definitely told you about me…..but I think they forgot to mention, that I maintain a class. And you don't figure in any of my lists….I get turned on by classy and sexy girls…..absolutely not by behenjis like you."
"How dare you?" she said with a bitterness and hurled her hand towards him with a strong jerk, which he could not guess, whether was aimed to slap him or scratch his face, but he was quick and timely enough to hold her wrist and stopped it in air. He held her tightly at her wrist and twisted it to take it towards her back and tuck it at her back making her come closer to him in the process.
For a moment, their eyes met. She remembered the last night's fiasco and it seemed that even he did. But, it was hardly for few seconds.
"Take it easy baby…..good girls don't get physical with men." He said in a flirtatious tone.
"Dare if you talk to me like that….." she was trapped once again but resisted strongly.
"One thing that I'll simply add in my previous statement on turn -ons…...a wild and a strong girl is the biggest turn-on……….so now you are topping my charts. I'll see to it that you are mine, before we leave this place."
"Am I supposed to take it as a compliment? It was rather, very cheap……"
"Take it as you please," he left her and moved to the table to pick up his shades.
"Dare if you try to come to my room again…." she warned him.
He laughed loudly at this and said, "I think you did not collect proper information about me. I had a chance last night….did I do anything to harm you, once I knew that you are not Shelly? I left like a gentleman…..because sweetheart, I 'am' a gentleman. I don't force myself on anyone….people come closer to me like iron does to magnet. I don't misbehave unless someone forces me to….."
"I just saw a glimpse of how gentlemanly you treated me, right now….." she refuted his claims with a sarcasm, nursing her almost red wrist with her other hand.
"You started it……I just requested you to keep quiet and you said that I make news for cheap publicity."
"Hello….you did not request……you almost thought that I would boost my ego by taking your name…."
"There is nothing wrong in thinking like that..…….girls often do that…..….to raise their reputation…..."
"Sorry to disappoint you but presence with you runs the risk of damaging any girl's reputation than raising it……."
Saying this, she left the room making him smile behind her.
After that, they spent a lot of time at the shoot. She was worried that he would embarrass her but he didn't even look at her and she was relaxed.
After lunch hour, she had to do a solo photo shoot with him and this made her a little nervous.
Relax Khanak! You are not alone with him….there will be people for lighting….for make up….other smaller work. Relax ! Calm down…..she told herself.
"Thinking about me?" he came towards her and spoke so low that it was only for her ears.
"I have much better work in life…." She lied and this amused him.
"You are lying…..it's written clearly on your face that 'I am missing Shantanu'…."
"You think so highly of yourself, right?" she signaled him to sit at a particular place on a rock. It was an outdoor shoot coupled with a music video, so they had to keep a lot of things including landscaping clear in their minds.
"It is natural for anyone in my place….." he spoke while sitting and adjusting his jacket.
"Why? What is so special about you?" she said this, very casually, as a matter-of-fact, while kneeling on one knee and adjusting her camera.
He was shocked at this question….. recomposing himself took a few minutes, before she said, "Can you please turn to this side…..and keep this expression on your face…..suits you….." she said smiling.
"I think it's going to be the best photo shoot ever……...you will keep ragging me and I will retain these intense expressions throughout….….." he said jokingly but was obviously upset. This was the first time in his life that a girl had asked him that 'what was so special about him.'……
After a few clicks he came towards her…..she was busy on the digital screen of her SLR and was pondering over the improvement required to add contrast. She was startled with his voice as she was focused on the camera and was almost about to drop her camera.
"Hey…."
"Can't you stop startling me?" she accused.
He ignored her remark and sat near her, "Did you really mean it when you said that there is nothing special in me?"
"Why does it even matter to you?" she spoke in a soft but indifferent tone, still busy with her work.
She was right…..he thought…..why did it matter to him?….she was a nobody as compared to him….she was not related to him…..she was not his friend…..so why did her opinion matter ?
Still it did……he was not able to guess why……
"Just wanted to know, a neutral POV………how can you think that I have nothing special to flaunt about? I am good looking, handsome, stylish, educated, very rich and a successful professional, any thing that a girl could ask for, in a man……"
She listened to this and smiled at his over confidence as well as his innocence……..
Turning to him, she said, "look……everybody has different criteria….. for me physical attributes do nothing. All I look for, in a man, is a strong character and you lack there. So, for me, you have nothing……" she said this lightly but very firmly and got up to instruct the lighting arrangement.
He kept sitting where he was…… as she had disturbed him immensely. But what he couldn't understand was why her words shook him every time she was near him…..he was not used to this kind of response from any girl. All he had seen till now was girls drooling and swooning on him waiting for his attention and dying to be with him…..even if it meant being with him in his bed…
He had never experienced any difficulty with any girl at any point of time and he almost assumed that he was an irresistible magnet……...until this girl came from nowhere and woke him up.
He was intrigued……He got up and again went to talk to her.
"SK…..we have decided that the light is poor right now and the sun has set…..so rest we will shoot tomorrow. Can you manage getting up early?" she spoke as a thorough professional.
"My name is Shantanu Khandelwal……...not SK….."
"That is too long……I don't have that much time," she spoke nicely while picking up her bag and camera.
The rest of the crew started winding up too and she walked in the direction of their resort which was quiet far…..it was around 20 minutes of walk if someone walked fast enough.
"Are you not taking the van?" he asked from a distance.
"No, I am walking down…..I feel like walking today and will see a bit of the place too. " After walking for a few steps, she noticed a pretty wild flower at the ground among many thorns and she automatically kneeled down adjusting the camera and took it's picture.
She checked it back on the screen and felt happy…..….she smiled and pressed her lips breathing in the beauty of the place and was surprised to see him standing and observing her from a few steps away. He smiled too and this made her conscious and she stood up.
"Very pretty," he said while looking at the flower, "but 'Tch'…..so many thorns….good to look at, but difficult to hold….."
"We don't need to hold everything we like…..sometimes, it is fine to appreciate from a distance….just by looking at something."
He understood her reply to his analogy in the same reference that he had said.
"Will you come with me for dinner? Think before replying…….no girl has ever refused me."
"What makes you think that I will say yes?"
"I don't think that……I am just hoping…..."
"Why are you even thinking of me?…..I am a typical 'behenji'…..not exactly hot and sexy as per your standards……."
"I told you that you are still topping my charts……..now for various reasons….."
"I am yet another game for you……..and you have challenged yourself that how quickly you can get me in your bed."
He shrugged, "It isn't about the bed thing every time……."
"Oh I'm so surprised…….So, tell me - what do you look for, when you date a different girl every time …….soulmate? I'm so sure against that…."
"I'm just so confused with you, I don't know what it is….….but I want to know….…."
"Do you really want to know? I'll tell you – you find me interesting as you couldn't get me easily…….the tougher the target, the more interesting the game…..right?"
She turned and started walking.
"You can't act indifferent. It seems I don't affect you at all…..…" he walked with her and said in a frustrated tone.
"SK…..we are here to work…."
"My name is not SK…….." He stressed again.
"Shantanu is a long word for me…."
"Call me Shaan then…."
"All girls call you that…..I am not that bracket…." She stopped and turned to reply.
"Which bracket are you, then?" he asked huskily, coming closer.
"No bracket…….I am just not associated with you….. at all……" she said turning away.
He followed her and held her wrist softly yet firmly.
"Leave my hand, someone will see us."
"There's nobody here……and it is quiet dark."
"Please leave….." she pleaded.
He let her go…….and she swiftly swept through the deserted road to turn towards the mall road.
Their one week tour extended to 10 days as Vikram couldn't join them after 2 days and the heroine Shelly had to go for a prior commitment for 3 days in between. They had been working since 4 days now and he stared at her relentlessly whenever he was with her and she avoided all his gazes and attention.
"Coffee?? After we wrap up?" he asked once again, in hushed tone.
"Do you ever give up?"
"I don't…….I have been asking since 4 days now and you have been refusing….."
"What makes me so interesting for you?"
"Everything……everything about you attracts me….." he said it in a way that it became hard for her to control her racing heart beats.
Somebody was interested in her…..since childhood, nobody had ever shown this much interest in her. There were men who proposed to her or confessed liking to her, but backed off once she showed disinterest. She always had this no-nonsense attitude since childhood. And she scared people away by this serious demeanour. For the first time, she was being pursued with this passion.
But, the only problem was that her pursuer was SK…..who himself didn't know how long any girl could sustain his interest in herself. No, she wasn't going to get hurt….
"Go away……I am not interested……." She removed the lens from the camera and put it in it's case.
"Tell me one reason and I'll go away…."
"You don't respect women…." She kept doing her work and avoided looking at him directly.
"No….that is wrong. I do respect women……...a lot. I respect my mom, my nani, my dadi, my sisters, cousins…..lots of women."
She kneeled down to pick up her bag from the floor, hiding her smile.
"Why are you smiling?"
"By women, I meant all women……not your relatives and mom."
"I respect 'you'……..is that enough?"
Another sentence to make the now calming heart beats to go fast again. He definitely knew how to speak effectively….especially with girls.
"I was not talking about myself." She got up from the ground and placed her bag on her shoulders.
"Khanak, a person gets what he asks for and what he portrays that he wants….….you expect nothing but respect and I give you that. Have I ever been mean or disrespectful to you? Same is the case with mom and other relatives……they demand respect and get it. Self –respect is in our own hands…….we tell others whether to respect us or not. Any other girl never asked for it"
She liked him comparing her with his mom and relatives…..in fact she loved it. He had kept her apart from other girls. And one thing that she was sure of him…..was that he was anything but fake. If he said it…….. he meant it……
"I don't want you to think that someone could fill in for the time Shelly is out…….Isn't she your official girlfriend?"
"Official? Is she a document?"
"I mean declared….."
"Leave that non-sense, come with me for coffee…." He pleaded again.
"No….I don't want to be seen with you."
"Why?"
"I have a reputation……" she couldn't complete the sentence as he interrupted.
"And you think that it will get spoilt?"
"Yeah…….I think……"
"Please come……just 1 coffee…." he insisted again.
She gave it a thought and finally gave in, "Only 1 coffee….."
His face lit up like a kid….
She was still not sure why she agreed to his invite. But she genuinely liked him. She observed him over the cup of coffee and felt that what he said about himself was right. He was definitely good looking and attractive…..he was successful and rich….he was very stylish with loads of attitude ….
but then, what was he doing here with her?
If only……he was't Shantanu……she sighed.
She had imagined a prince charming in her dreams sweeping her off her feet. Someone who would persistently and passionately follow her….…... Someone who wouldn't care for the world, just because of her. Someone who would be hers…… forever and ever……someone who would marry her and make her feel the most special person on this earth……..but this was not the case here.
He was SK and he definitely did not believe in anything of the above. He was a playboy and she was another game……
She was back to reality after a nice fairy tale trip.
But she was sadder now………. disappointed and disgusted.
They didn't talk much and she didn't know what he was thinking. But when they got up, she observed that a small group of 3-4 college going girls spotted him in this small coffee shop and rushed to talk to him. She stepped aside and gave them space, but he didn't even look at them properly. His eyes were on her as she moved outside to wait in the garden area.
He reached there within a few minutes and they walked quietly. She couldn't believe that they had met just 4 days back as she could feel a certain warmth in him as if they had known each other since years.
After dinner, late at night…..some of his close friends, the director, the choreographer and the manager sat around a campfire as it was getting colder…..Vikram had joined them in the evening.
This was a group that talked everything and teased each other. Amongst loads of leg pulling and jokes, someone asked, "Hey Shaan, when is Shelly coming back?"
"I……I don't know……" he said confused, looking at Khanak, who was observing him.
"Of course, why would you know or care? You got another 'time pass' here….."
"What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
"I saw you sitting with someone in that secluded coffee shop, but I didn't disturb." Said the choreographer of this video.
Khanak froze at the thought of being seen with him. He looked at her face immediately to check whether she was fine.
"Oh wow, did you see who she was ?" someone asked.
"No, I could just see the back and actually I didn't feel like watching also….why to disturb the love birds." They all laughed at it.
"Come'on yaa……Can't I sit with some one and have coffee? She was a serious and sensible girl….not everyone is an affair….."
Everyone laughed at this comment from him….
"Serious and sensible? Then what was she doing with you? Accept it Shaan…..you are a hot property and girls find you as irresistible as an ant finds honey….they just can't stay away from you."
"Even, I think the same…..but the quality lies in Shaan…..how does he manage is a big question…he gets a girl anytime, anywhere….as if they are just waiting for his approval ?" said someone else.
"How do you do it Shaan?…..sometimes I feel I need to learn a lot from you…" laughed the director and everyone teased him.
Khanak had picked up her plate and excused herself on the note that she felt cold and needed to bring her shawl.
"Shut up everyone," Shaan was very angry, "Can't you all think and speak?……I was simply sitting and having coffee…..there is no need to derive any meaning out of it…"
"Oh yeah……we understand these things boy…..." Added Vikram and made everybody laugh again.
"You guys are disgusting….." he became angry and got up to leave. They were already planning to get up so everybody started dispersing, least perturbed by his anger and protest.
Khanak cried inconsolably after reaching her room. They had not seen her and their cheap talks about the girl made her so upset. Had they seen her, what impression, she would have made on all…….
What if people come to know…..or media? What if mama – mami and Divya come to know of it? She had not done anything wrong, how would she prove it?
No one will believe them……..
He would be least affected….it was another feather in his cap, but she would lose all her reputation. People will look at her as an easily available chick. Mama-mami will consider her as a bad influence on Divya….she felt all the hard work of years going into the drain.
She did not need this…..she did not need to talk to him at all.
There was still time and she should let good sense prevail. Let sanity be her saviour. Avoid him at any cost……..she told herself !!
She was still crying, when she heard the knock on her door. It was a very soft knock.
She spoke softly, "Who's that?"
"Khanak, it's SK?"
"Please go…….I don't want to talk….."
"Just open the door, for few minutes…….please…"
"Go……please," she pleaded.
"If you don't open, I'll knock louder and create a scene here….."
She shuddered at the thought and without thinking much, she immediately opened. He came inside and closed the door behind him.
"Why are you crying? No one saw you….."
"But, they could have……look, we don't need this at all…...did you see what impression it leaves on just being spotted with you? It might not make much difference to you, but will spoil my life……." She spoke in a flow.
"What are you speaking? Calm down….." he held her hand but she took it away with a jerk.
"Khanak……listen to me….."
"No…..please go……I don't want you here?"
"Do you want me in your life?"
She was shocked at this unexpected question and replied with a firm, "No….."
"You are lying…." He placed his hands on her shoulders.
She was irritated at his words, "Why are you always so confident of yourself? Everyone has to like you……...everyone has to want you….."
"I am not bothered about everyone anymore…..in fact I am not bothered about anyone now……It's just 'you'………." he looked at her eyes intensely.
Her tears had stopped but eyes were still moist and cheeks still wet. He raised his hands to wipe off her tears, "Just give me a chance, I'll correct everything about myself. I'll see to it that you get respect when you are with me."
"I am a very simple girl…..how will you prove that I was not throwing myself at you?…..and after few years, I don't know how people will look at me…..."
"I'll handle everything, no one will point a finger at you……I promise."
"For how long?…….till you get another game to stimulate you?"
"I'll be honest………I really don't know why I am doing this and what do I want…..but please let me give a chance to this, 'coz I have never felt like this before……."
"This is a transient feeling….." she said softly, "believe me, it will fade away with time."
"Aren't you attracted to me?" he said in a husky voice, coming closer.
His proximity disturbed her and she stepped back. He kept coming closer and she kept stepping back till her back rested on the wall near the door. And he did not stop and took her face in his hands, cupping her cheeks in his palms.
Finally, she managed to speak, "Getting attracted is different from trying to get what you like. Like that flower in the woods….We can't try to get everything we like…..I have learnt to appreciate things from a distance and move ahead."
"But, I haven't………….I want you……….." he whispered huskily
"Leave me………..you are insane……"
"For the first time in my life, I feel like protecting someone, respecting someone and thinking beyond making love……..….."
She did not respond, just kept looking at him with moist eyes. It was a trap that she knew of and still she had fallen in it……he was an ocean and she had lost herself in it….
His gaze traveled from her eyes to her other features and stayed on her lips for a while. He bent down and placed his lips firmly on hers. It was more than a peck but much less than a kiss as she did not respond back…..slowly, he moved away. Immediately, she raised her hand and gave him a tight slap.
He was shocked at this and bit his lower lip between his teeth. She was shocked herself and felt terrified expecting a strong response from him but he kept standing still and did not react.
She could see the effect of her slap in form of visible red marks of her fingers on his cheek……..
"I'm sorry….." she panicked.
"It's okay…..….I deserved it…….." and he moved slightly away from her.
In an impulse she leaned towards him and wound her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, before hugging him, "I'm so………. so sorry………please forgive me."
He held her by placing his hands on her back and drew her closer, hugging her back tightly.
"Thanks……" he said softly in her hair.
"For what?" she was surprised.
"For slapping me…….Trust me, I've never met a girl before, who guarded her character and self-esteem this fiercely……..will never let you down……I was really confused about what I felt for you. I knew that it was love but couldn't make myself accept it..…just wanted someone to make me understand what exactly it was…...…"
"So…..?"
He moved away to look at her face, in her eyes.
"Your slap helped……… I would have never taken it from any other girl, but when 'you' slapped, I felt like taking you in an embrace and assuring you that I won't leave you ever…… ….I've never said it to anyone before, 'coz I have never felt it..….. I love you Khanak."
"I don't know if I love you……..it's too early to say………but I want to."
……………………………………………………………………
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