Casa 50B on 146 Most links on Page 1) - Page 53

Originally posted by: aditee

Saaaz wants a slow "devirginization", so thats what it will be

PART 23 E

Chembur, Sat Noon

Khanak: My life is a royal mess right now''''' I am not done grieving over my husband, my dad wants me to remarry, the guy'' or one of the guys he has picked for me is a good man''. And then there is this''.. random guy who insinuates himself in my life. No rhyme or reason'''. I had no clue who he was two months ago, and now (all I do is think about him) I am telling you what a devil he is''.. (anguished)

Ritu notices, how she comes back to Shaan each time and doesn't say more than the bare minimum about Nirav

Ritu: Nirav ko mana kar chuki ho?

Khanak: Now you are talking like (stops) '''..nahi abhi nahi''.. aaj phone aaya uska

Khanak: Mystery gal'.. meri baat sun'. bahut ho gaya Sooraj ki yaad, uske liye rona, I don't believe he would want you to grieve and live the life of a nun'''. If you are not attracted to Shaan, then just say yes to Nirav na?

Ritu's phone rings, she takes it in the bedroom''..

That's not what Khanak wants to hear, not exactly music to her ears''.. Sooraj was'.. or is the ready made answer to everything in her life, he was her shield, he was her "hole". She loved to hide there'''' she had been hiding there unnoticed until Shaan came along and blasted the hole and brought it to surface. Now there was no place to hide, nowhere to run to'''..

She hated him thoroughly for that''.. for making her realize there is a life beyond grief''. About the needs of her body''. About desires about passion, about sensuality'''''

She is 24 yet sought the life of an ascetic. In a lame logic her mind had concocted it was her "tribute" to the love of her life, Sooraj. There had never been any talk between the two about what one would do if the other were to pass away first'''. Theirs was not a proverbial love story where they talked and talked and talked and scored their names inside a heart on trees in Buddha Jayanti park or vandalized monuments in Purana Qila or Red Fort'''.

It was simple, real life and not filmy at all''' once their familes had agreed, in fact they both were so secure in their love for each other they never mouthed "ILUs" to each other on a daily basis like the 20 somethings did these days. No gushy SMSs no whiny "Tum kahan the, tum ne itni late phone kyon kiya" business. They both had found a quiet nesting place in the other's heart''''. And moved in and started putting up pictures on the wall. Heck! She even painted it her fave color!

This man was chasing her like its nobody's business''.. he demanded her attention and badgered her until she gave him her fullest'''.

Whatever Ritu said, she would call him and tell him to back off'''. Shaan to back off.

Maybe Ritu is right, for now, she must use Nirav, however cruel that might sound even to her own ears'''.. she would agree to marry him'''' I mean''. What could Shaan possibly want?

Ana affair probably! Not a THING more'''' the attraction and desire he so vehemently talks about will wane with time, when he hears she is engaged and about to be married. When she moves to Ahmedabad, he would go back to his clubbing and pubbing ways and then it will all be over''''..

We have nothing in common, we don't know anything about each other, we may not even like what we find out about the other'''. I have never had affairs or flings'''..

His FIRST lover?

Oh! Gosh! He had no idea what he wanted''' "the first time with a dull middle class widow?" He will give enough fodder to his high society friends to razz him the rest of his life

His words from last nite rang in her ears for the nth time "He wanted to make love all nite " Nobody had said anything remotely so sensuous to her EVER!

He would! He most definitely would😳

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PART 24

Sunday!

Chembur

Most of Saturday had gone by in chores, taking naps and watching movies with Ritu. She was alternating between teasing her, reassuring her, comforting her and being plainly amused at Khanak's predicament. There was something wrong with her cell phone, so she called Aada and Bai to let them know she will get it fixed on Monday and so they should reach her by calling the landline if need be. They had so much to say these days. About the tacit "approval", about when the wedding should be and when she should quit her job and when she was likely to return to Ahmedabad.

She tried to tone it all down when she spoke to them, instead of encouraging them as she had promised she would do. It was just impossible to digest the fact that Nirav would be her new husband. Wondered how much she could blame Shaan for her frustrations. She wondered how receptive she would have been to the whole idea of marrying again.

She was unable to sleep Friday night, her head was hurting because of all the soaking in the rain, she had to wake up and pop a painkiller. Saturday had been an emotional rollercoaster until past 1 PM, narrating things to Ritu. Sunday was more of a routine day, they both did laundry, haggled with their maid, visited the aunty next door for chai, went to do some random shopping in the neighborhood market,

All the while unable to conceal a feeling of happiness that someone someplace was thinking about her.

"Jab bhi khayalon mein tu aaye"

"Mere badan se khushboo aaye"

That feeling sent thrill snaking through her entire body. The anticipation, the wait, the hope they would see each other again Monday''''. The first time they would look at each other after the weekend or after a gap of 2 or more days was the most desired encounter for Khanak.

Her heart would race, when she would hear his voice in the hallway, it would come closer and closer until she would hear foot falls near the conference room''. Her fingers would go numb, her heart would beat like hitting the emergency alarm, double up on the beats, basically, and her mouth would go dry.

He didn't have to say or do anything specific, the moment she would look up from her monitor and their eyes would clash. The world would come to a standstill for her. In a room full of people, slides rolling on the screen, presenter talking without a pause, people typing away taking notes, or chatting on instant messengers'''' something in those eyes would reach out and caress her.

Aap ki aankhon mein kuch mehke hue se raaz hain

Aap se bhi khoobsoorat aapke andaaz hain"

Ritu's parents were lining up people they wanted her to meet. Ritu was disappointed that she may not have a love story fairy tale wedding. Khanak reassured her that such things exist only on paper and the silver screen. So she should just look forward to who ever she might "connect with" the most. She predicted that Ritu would be married and out of the house by the end of the year.

Ritu continued coaxing her, persuading her to change her mind and make her parents happy. She even suggested as far as, she should go ahead and have that fling with Shaan. She promised to "double date" by getting herself a cute guy as well. "It will be the best thing to happen to us this year. After we end it''We both can eat tubs of chocolate ice cream and chow down entire candy bars to grieve much like they would in Hollywood movies and we would have boxes of Kleenex strewn all around us. It would be super clichd and cool" There was a reason Ritu was her best friend''''' she made her LAUGH!

She could always make her laugh''''. Sigh!

The cell phone charger was the culprit, she later figured out, and went off and got a new one when she went to the nearest Nokia store. It was like she had her life back.. she smiled thinking how much she depended on it, despite not having a dozen friends like Ritu.

The internet was slow so she couldn't check emails, but was able to complete some data sheets and scorecards that was required for Monday, the two pending design issues that sat in BMC were likely to be approved the following week also. Things were progressing faster than expected. Ritu would be travelling again she informed, she didn't know when, plus her parents had wanted to her to "meet" some family friends in Delhi so she might have to take off for that as well, and work from Hafeez's Delhi office for a week, she thought.

Later Sunday evening, Ritu took off to visit a co-worker that had recently had a baby. She wanted Khanak to go with her also, but she refused to tag along everywhere just because "Ritu had no one to go with".

The evening was muggy and moist, not a leaf swayed, didn't look like it would rain either, she decided to go take a shower, turned on the radio, cooked some rice and made Gujarati karhi,

She takes the longest shower she could'''. Steps out wears her long kurta her phone's ringing''.

Runs to pick it up

Khanak: Uhh'hello! (husky)

Shaan: Hi!

It jolts her for some reason, she leans back on the bedroom wall

Khanak: Shantanu?!

Shaan: I believe so! (amused)

Khanak: Ek minute''..

Goes off to turn down the volume on the radio''.

Khanak: Sorry, FM bahut loud tha

Shaan: Tum phone kyon nahi utha rahi ho? I must have tried 3 times''

Khanak: I was in the shower!! (piqued)

The impact of that statement sinks in'''.there is a lengthy pause

Shaan:Oh! (hoarse) (clears his throat) I am sorry'.. I can call back later?

Khanak: NO!....... I mean''' its OK (composes herself, lest he is able to bust her)

He smiles.

Shaan: Did you have a good weekend?

Khanak: Really good! Awesome''' (pride)

Shaan: That's good, what did you do?

Oh! Well''.. what did she do " Bahut kuch, khoob ghoomey''' lunch bhi bahar kiya humne"

Shaan: Who is the "hum"? (gently probing)

Khanak: She considers lying but does not'' "Ritu"

Shaan: So u did not miss my dinner invite? (taunts)

Khanak: What dinner invite? (typical, forgetful)

Shaan: Ouch!(chuckles) I had to work last nite'' not fun'' but I did

Khanak: Aapka weekend kaisa tha? (perfunctory)

He smiles

Shaan: It was good, swimming, some tennis, good food, Samuel Adams' Utopia''

Khanak: Who kya hai?

Shaan: Beer, Khanak'.. you should try some once (kids)

Khanak: I am dull, you should know that by now (shocks herself at being so comfortable with him)

Shaan: I can think of many "exciting" things you do (husky)

Khanak: Aapne kyon phone kiya?

Shaan: I wanted to send you some design files, to look at can you do a quick summary and add it to ur slides? Ive already spoken with Ram.

Khanak: Nahi! Maine sham ko 3 ghante kaam kiya, ''' (sulks)

Shantanu: Please?

Khanak: Do I have a choice, I guess''.. but my internet is slow'.. so if I don't see your email, then don't count on those slide additions.(smug)

Shaan: Can you go to a coffee shop or a free wi fi place? (needles her)

Khanak: Nahi, bilkul nahi!

Shaan: I was just teasing you''. What are you wearing BTW?

Khanak is completely unprepared for the change in trajectory

Khanak: A kurta'.. white''. None of your business (rattled)

Pause!

Shaan: Sleep well Khanak, I will see you.............. Tomorrow! (decisive)😳

The radio starts playing:

"Phir wohi................. raat hai

Raat bhat khwaab mein, dekha karenge tumhe

Phir wohi................. raat hai"

OMGGG........U put up one more part....Yay !