-SS- EK HI KHWAB -Uptd Epi Pg 32 - Page 20

in the meantime his dream has left the building..

Final Part

Seated in the auto, returning home, Khanak replays the whole scene in her head several times..each time wondering where had she gone wrong..and it results in only one thing..wiping her tears of hurt..she wrings her hands..looks out to take her mind away..but nothing works..no one has ever been so angry with her ever..no one has ever questioned her ever..no one has ever affected her this way ever..she rubs her upper arms remembering how he curtailed her and then let her go..and yet why does she feel she has left a part of herself with him..and with him it shall always remain..and he..she thinks with tears threatening to flow again..he..he shall be with her for ever and this time she needs no mementos..

Shaan was tired..there are boxes in front of the only window in the makeshift office space..he stares through the miniscule space..there is no enough light, he suddenly thinks..the recessed lighting and the desk lamp are not enough..he needs to get out..he picks up the phone from the floor..decides to pick up the files and papers next to it whilst he is down there..puts them all on the desk..calls and leaves a message with his Akki;s secretary that he has stepped out and if his brother needs him.. to call him on his cell..takes his blazer, hangs it over his shoulder while holding it with his forefinger and steps out. Inquires after Natasha and has been told she has stepped out too..

Khanak reaches her place..she needs to get to the institute for a class and also has a submission coming up..she is in two minds whether to go or not..her splitting headache takes the decision for her..she decides to take a nap..she hears a knock on the door..

Shaan's car is at the Cadel Road signal..while he waits..a hawker is trying to sell him flowers..he waves his hand away..he is reminded of many things..none of which matter anymore he thinks..none..none whatsoever, he insists..his phone rings..

Daadi: Tho tum mujhe phone kab karne walle the?

Shaan: (with a huge smile): daaaadi…kaisi hain aap?

Daadi: Tho bol na..khush khabri kab dena walla tha?

Shaan: Khush khabri? Kaisi Khush kabhri?

Daadi: Arrey..Khanak aur tumhaari..

Shaan: Khanak aur meri..kya matlab Daadi..?????

(he does not want to talk while driving and so turns and parks at a bylane..a hawker with balloons comes by him..he waves him away..)

Daadi: (wondering): Khanak se tumhaari baat nahin huyi?

Shaan: (confused): Nahin..I mean Haan..I mean daadi..I don't understand..Aap Khanak se kab mili aur kaunsee baat..

Daadi: (realizing something is not adding up): Khanak yahan pichle hafte aayee thee..art workshop attend karne..humne dher saari baatein ki ..mujhse jyaada usne..ab wohi baatein usse hi tumse kehna chahiye..jaa ab main phone rakh rahee hoon..

Shaan: (impatient and restless): Daadi..no..no..don't hang up..(hearing the dial tone): Yaar..Daadi..aapko koyee detective novel likhnee chahiya..yeh kya tha??.. (hitting the phone to his forehead while he leans on his car)..focus dude focus..(suddenly the phone rings disturbing his focus)

Akki: Shaan..kahan hai tu? Jaldi office aaja..Natasha ne apni resignation submit kiya hain..

Khanak opens her door to find Gopi..grinning from ear to ear..holding her phone..

Gopi: (with a huge smile): Bhaiya hai phone pe..le baat kar..

Khanak: (looks questioningly): Hello..

Suraj: Khanak!! Khanak!! Board ne decision announce kar diya hai..ki meri galatee bilkul nahin thee..aaj Akshay Sir mujhe office mein bulaake sabhi staff ke saamne bahut izzat di..

Khanak: KYA?? Sach??

Suraj: Mujhe ek week paid vacation ke baad main office rejoin kar sakta hoon..

Khanak: Yakeen nahee hota..

Suraj: Sunil Sir bhi aane waale hain..acha sunn mujhe abhi jaana hai..Sunil Sir press announcement karne waale hain..

Khanak: (holding Gopi's hands and both smiling at each other): Suraj..yeh kitni achee news hain..

Suraj: Arrey haan jaane se pehle ek mazeddar baat kehnee thee..Akshay Sir ne mujhe poocha ..tumharee wife ko holiday pe zaroor leke jana..jab maine unse kahan ki main tho shaadi shooda nahin hoon..woh hass padde aur kaha..Oh Gosh! I am sorry lekin hummein laga tha ki jo ladki company party mein aayee thee tumhare saath woh tumharee wife hain.. Kya khyal hain Mrs. Mehtajee?? (laughs heartily and hangs up)

Khanak: (giving the phone to Gopi): Usse wapas janna tha..(and slowly smiles..everything dawns on her..)

Khanak hugs Gopi tightly..Gopi is surprised..Khanak smiles..laughs through her tears..hears her phone ring..lets go off Gopi and picks it up..

Khanak: Hello?

Shaan: (agitated): Tumne mujhse kahan kyun nahee, ke tum pichle hafte Poona mein.. MERI Daadi ke paas thee..

Khanak: (smiles through her tears and then stops, irritated): WRONG NUMBER..

(switches the phone off and puts it aside)

Gopi looks at her questioning..Khanak makes her sit down and the two friends have a long chat..

Shaan stares at his phone..he is agitated enough..confused enough..cannot believe she hung up on him..is about to call again..when there is a knock in his office..

Staff: Sir, Ms. Natasha aayee hain..

(Natasha walks in and hugs Shaan who hugs her back)

Natasha: Mujhe yakeen nahi hota ke tumne Suraj ki innocence ki sifarish kee thee at the board meeting..

Shaan: (shrugs): Well..he is innocent..woh sab tho theek hai..I was looking for you because what the hell is going on..yeh resignation kya hai?

Natasha: (lets go of him and smiles at him): Oh ho..it is a good thing, Shaan. According to company rules, bosses and subordinates cannot fraternize..

Shaan: (with a very flirty smile): Oh Hello..nahee tum meri boss ho..aur nahee main tumhara subordinate..

Natasha: (hits him on his shoulder): Tum kabhi baaz nahin aaoge..hai na..new role mein Suraj mera direct report honewalla tha..

Shaan: KYA???

Natasha: Haan baba..sorry ke main tumse yeh baat pehle nahin batayee..but when I wanted to..itna sab kuch ho gaya tha..ke I was myself confused..

Shaan: (holds her by her shoulders): Tum kya kar rahee ho? Itni badi sacrifice..and Suraj tho..

Natasha: SHaan, yeh sacrifice nahin hai..I have got another offer..

Shaan: (shakes her shoulders): Natasha..woh shaadi shuda hai..

Natashan: WHAT?

Shaan: Haan..uskee biwi hain..

Natasha: WHAT RUBBISH!!! Tum bilkul pagal ho gaye ho Shaan..Itni possessiveness achi nahin..

Shaan: Arrey possessive kaun ban raha hai yaar..uskee biwi ka naam Khanak hai..

Natasha: (rolls her eyes): For god's sake..Khanak uskee biwi nahin hai..

Shaan: WHAT?

Natasha: Arrey nahin..Khanak aur Suraj bahut achedost hain..bachpann se ek doosre ko jaante hain..usse 6 mahine huye hain Bombay aake.. tumhe pata hain Shaan..last week main kitni turmoil mein thee..aur Suraj bhi..maine socha ki jis aadmi se mei pyaar karne lagee hoon..uske saath yeh sab kaise ho raha hai..aur Suraj sirf yehee sochta raha ke natashajee ke vishwas ka kya hoga..Shaan, tum sunn rahe ho na..

(She suddenly notices Shaan holding the table..staring away..she walks towards him and turns him around..notices tears in his eyes)

Nat: Shaan???

Shaan: Usne ek baar bhi mujhse nahin kahan..ki woh uski patni nahin hai..

Nat: (smiles at her friend who, she has known since he was 5 and has refused to grow up): Tumne kabhi poocha?

Shaan: Of course!!!? .. I mean.. Kya pata..?..

Nat: Ab tho patta lag gaya hai na..go get her..

(Shaan hugs her tight..)

Shaan: (smiles): Tho tumhara hero tumhe Natashajee kehta hai..how tacky yaar..

Nat: (still in a hug, smiling): Shut up Shaan..woh pehle kehta tha..ab nahin..anyway usse sara office chiddatha hain..Mehtajee ..

Shaan: (smiles ): Office hi nahin..he is such a lucky bas***d..

Nat: (disengages from the hug, punches him with a smile): Jao..go..go get her..

Shaan: thanks..aur tumhare mehtajee ko bhi..

He opens his office door to see Suraj standing outside..he does the only thing he could do and the only thing he never thought he would..Shaan hugs Suraj and leaves the building to fulfill his dream..with open eyes..

…

Jab tumhara yeh Khwab dekha tha

Apne bistar pe main uss waqt pada..

Jag raha tha..

---

Review Mandatory..

Originally posted by: aditee

Agla part post kar na

In the time you spend writing individual responses, write that next part already!

Forget a tupid review....I want a epilogue now!.....Right now!!!😳.....Get typing missy!.....I am busy tomorrow, but expect it to be done in 24 hours.....Got it?😳.....

Phew !!!!

y do always have jaldi of finishing the ff???????????
loved it saaz...... All my confusion were solved wid the last part...... And no your not ending it here..... Please please continue atleast an epilogue toh banta Hai boss.....

C'mon Saaz,this can't be the final part.Abhi to Shantanu and Khanak has to do so many things together,foremost being making most of the icecream and putting it to good use.Of course there should be an epilogue and there is right?RIGHT?!

Hi Saaz................🤗

Saaz,

Haiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!