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PART 23 A

Shivneri Nagar Chembur

Saturday Morning

Its time to tell everything to Ritu''' she had a migraine she said and had gone off to sleep Friday night. Saturday morning when they were having their chai and discussing the workweek, Khanak decided to bring it all out.

Ritu: Tum kal raat ko ba aayi?

Khanak: It was quite late'.. not very late, but past 10 I think. How are you feeling?

Ritu: Kinda woozy but I will stay in bed all day I think (laughs)

Khanak: Haan tum to so jao, that will be good.

Ritu: How is work yaar, you look quite stressed some times

Khanak blushes "Work is good'''. Yep, work is good''."

Ritu: And?.........

Khanak: Main tums eek baat kahoon?

Ritu looks up from the newspaper): Haan?

Khanak: Do you remember going to ur cousin's wedding? Trishna?

Ritu: Haan wohi hai uska naam (laughs)

Khanak: Mazaak nahi yaar please (distressed)

Ritu: Hua kya?

Khanak: Waha tumhe yaad hai, ek'.. we met this guy'''. I mean we met this really good looking guy?

Ritu: OMG! Haan'.. are you kidding? Did you meet him last nite some place? Tu kal gayi kahan thi, BTW? Tu? Jhooti, pub gayi thi na? Kaam ka bahana deka ghoomti rehti ho'' did you meet him? (is all gushy)

Khanak: He works at Ajmera!

Ritu is visibly shocked "Does he?" "OMG!" "Lets switch places from Monday, I will be Khanak, you can go to Hafeez" (smug)

Khanak: Ritu, mujhe distract mat kar

Ritu looks at her friend and wonders, what the girl is so upset about, she knows Khanak is very quiet by nature and speaks very little but has no idea why she is so jumpy

Khanak: I have met him at work ''' and now I don't know how to say this yaar'' this is a terrible thing'''.. (she stands up from the divan and walks to her fave spot, by the window and stares out) he is pursuing ME! (husky on the me!)😳😳

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PART 23 B

Shivneri Nagar, Chembur

Sat Morning

Ritu drops the paper with a loud swish "Subah subah Khanak? Aaj to April 1^st bhi nahi hai yaar, he is my sweetheart, why did you steal him (mock upset)

Khanak: Ritz''' I am not kidding! (grips the window pane until blood leaves her fists)

Ritu (walks up and stands by her) Tu mazaak kar rahi hai na?

Khanak: No! (looks at her deeply)

Ritu is visibly shocked " Umm'''.. I mean'''..OMG! (is suddenly very happy not jealous at all, she loves Khanak. Has been terribly upset on her behalf since Sooraj had died, and had worried countless hours if she would ever be OK, ever be half as happy even, ever again)

She hugs Khanak'' a really warm, emotional hug!

Ritz: Ab sab bata'' from DAY ONE!. Don't leave out one slimy detail I tell you"

Khanak is blushing again''' " OK'''.. Ritz, that's not the point''' its not a movie hun! Its my life!" (dejected)

Ritz: EXACTLY! Don't you see it? You are finally happy again''''.. Oh! You are I mean you will be happy. I am excited, happy, thrilled''' ab aur kya boloon"

Khanak:Its not how it is''

Ritz: What do you mean?

Khanak: This is all wrong!......... I am sure it's a dream'' its all a bad dream'' I will wake up and I wont know him'''

Ritz: Sweets'' chal, lets go sit down and start from the engagement alright?

Khanak reluctantly walks away from her comfort zone''' they both go sit down on the divan, take one oblong cushion each and cuddle it

Ritz: Shuru karo (grins) Chai aur laaoon? (winks)

Khanak: Stop it!

Ritz: OK all serious''. And tragic'''. (runs her right hand over her face to transform her expression, and looks suitably tragic)

Khanak: I met him at work the first day I presented there'' the Monday following the engagement. I knew something was just not right between us. I haven't felt so uncomfortable in a guy's presence ever, Ritz. (embarrassed at herself)

Ritz: Ok'''..

Khanak: I don't know how or when it all started'' it was too quick'' I tried to avoid being with him, I tried to not talk with him, I tried to pack up and leave when he showed up some place

Ritz: Mmm''.. hmm'''.. (enjoying the update)

Khanak: Please Ritz''.he is just too overwhelming

Ritz: EXACTLY! I could tell at the engagement' did you see how girls were falling all over him? He came on so strongly to me LOL! (embarrassed)

Khanak: You should have just exchanged numbers and started meeting him from Monday evening. You both are alike. You are not a snob ofcourse! You both are good looking''' Punjabis'''wealthy, extroverts, talk a lot, laugh a lot'''.. are a complete riot to be with. All the elements are common'''. You dress gorgeous, you are way more confident than me and don't feel embarrassed about being admired or feel guilty about admiring someone (serious)

Ritz: And what about you? (confused) You are lovely, have the greatest eyes and smile and hair, opinionated, strong, super quiet''' look extremely s--- if you wear the right clothes (grins) sorry, you know in a as---l sorta way! You are deeply emotional and sensitive''' and so passionate about the things you love, or the people you love (reminiscing)'''.. you are so possessive'''' remember how you pursued Sooraj? (cheers her up)

Khanak: This is worse! (voice trembling)

Ritz: What do you mean?

Khanak: He is relentless! (embarrassed)

Ritz: So how is he in bed? (winks)

Khanak: RITU! Are you''. Tum pagal ho kya?

Ritz: I am just asking swthrt, why are you so jumpy? (mocks)

Khanak: NO! I haven't slept with him (or not yet she tells to herself). Don't plan to'''.. EVER''' if I can help it

Ritz: Usko bhi sanyaas dilaane waali hai kya? God! It would be funny! He would be a terrible distraction for the nuns (serious)

Khanak: Funny?

Ritz: Don't you think so? (smug)

Khanak: NO! Does he look like the type to you who will agree to what ever I say? He is so arrogant''. Gosh! He thinks what he wants he will get! (thinking aloud, airing her fears?)

Ritz: WHAT is your problem? I just don't get it bud'..

Khanak: This is distracting, annoying and a plain waste of my time. I tell you everything so I confided again.

Ritz: Tell me something, are you attracted to him?

The longest silence in that apartment that morning. Kids screaming out cricket scores, "Who out ho gaya, bus out hai yaar, ball dekha nahi to" Neighbors haggling with drycleaners over stained clothes''.. creaky elevators, morning television blaring''''. Traffic, cars honking''..

Khanak somehow is unable to muster up the courage to admit the truth. A truth she has not admitted to herself to admitting to Ritu is just a long shot

Khanak: I don't think so (looks down and tidies up the divan, folding the newspapers)

Ritz: If YOU are not attracted, then whats the problem? (Gotcha!) Usko keh de, nahi, even better usko mera number de de simple! (laughs)

For the first time something about remark from Ritu hurts Khanak........... for the first time in her life, causes physical pain.