Part 12.
The rest of the day passed wonderfully for both Shantanu and Khanak.
Both of them had been feeling uncomfortable after so many days of unending arguments and the fights…….. they were positive people who needed positive energies and vibes to stay happy and work effectively.
All this negativity was giving an uneasy feeling since more than a week……….they were thinking about each other during the course of the day and both were absolutely sure that it was mainly because they were not used to ego-fights and bitter interactions…….
These fights disturbed them and affected their work and sleep both.
Finally, all of it was over……
The ceasefire had brought smiles and both felt as if a burden had been relieved.
Everything felt perfect…………..life was back to it's normal routine and both of them were back to their own struggles and professional pressures.
Shantanu was preparing day and night, rehearsing for the song that he had composed for the music director duo's show…….
Khanak had successfully completed the print advertisement of the hair care brand and it received such rave reviews that she was offered a few more ads and shows.
They did not meet for a few days………….they did not bump into each other at the elevator…….. they did not cross paths…………..and they particularly did not miss each other consciously……….
………………except for a few moments here and there……… during the day……… which reminded them of some of their pranks and interactions making them smile.
………………………………………………………………………
It was deep, dark and quiet all over the place and Shantanu could see nothing inside the long, scary corridor.
He was confused and felt helpless, still he walked ahead……….slowly, trying to locate something to hold on to ……. He was strong and brave and never felt scared of anything. But this darkness lead to uncertainty and he wanted to make sure that he was safe. He stepped ahead slowly but still the silence and the darkness perturbed him……
He was baffled, tired and very uneasy………….. he just wanted to get rid of this feeling …… this place………..and this depressing state………. when somewhere faraway, he saw a ray of light…..
He moved in the direction of the ray………it was a small source of light that came from the end of the corridor…………he took fast steps but the ray moved away…….he almost ran behind it and saw that a petite girl with silky hair stood at the end of the corridor and was turning to move away.
He stretched his hand to stop her, she turned and before she disappeared………….he could only see the smile………. …a radiant, warm, beautiful, compassionate smile !!!!!
He woke up with sweats on his forehead creases.
"Who was she?" he wondered as this was the first time he had seen such a confusing dream………
But, noticed that he felt good, "What a beautiful smile!!"
It felt beautiful to see a ray of hope………of beauty………..of warmth……..when wandering in the dark !!
He just smiled when he remembered the smile ……..and the dream !!!!!
A floor down, Khanak too woke up with erratic heart beat and sweating !!!
It was not a usual thing for her ………….
'I was thinking about Suraj when I slept but then how come he disappeared and I did not see him in the dream………….he vanished somewhere and whose eyes were they ???
Deep, dark, penetrating eyes………….who was the man who looked at me with those intense eyes……………looked familiar….!!!!'
…………………………………………………………………….
Both of them kept thinking about their dreams and smiled during the day !!! There was something that was beautiful, attractive and very……. very…… intriguing !!
They tried to be busy with their work but something had changed……..something was tugging deep down to someone………….and something was just making them feel happy from within……
Only they couldn't guess what it was !!!
After a week Shantanu was called for a meet with Rahul Khanna, the head of the RK group.
Rahul Khanna was a dynamic and talented young man in his late twenties taking care of the RK companies solely by himself after his father's untimely demise. The way he had taken over the reigns of the company and managed it effectively, he had earned rave reviews from everyone in the field, from both competitors and well wishers alike.
Shantanu reached the RK office on time……
Rahul was in a meeting with board of directors and he made Shaan wait for more than three hours and remained busy in the meeting.
After waiting for a long time, Shantanu became impatient as he had cancelled another meeting with an upcoming music director just for this appointment with Rahul.
After exactly three and a half hours, Rahul's manager informed Shantanu that as it had become late today, the meeting will be held the next day.
Shantanu became highly irritated and decided that he doesn't want to work with such an unprofessional group.
He had seen abundant money in his own house and company in Delhi……..all his life he had lived like a rich man…….he wasn't a struggler for money………he was struggling for work and recognition, on his own terms………….
And he did not care for people who did not have work ethics !!
But before going, he wanted to vent his frustration on someone so he banged open the board room door.
Rahul's younger sister Simran works with the music division as the Creative Supervisor…. She watches Shantanu as he zooms in…….
"Mr. Rahul Khanna, I had an appointment with you at 10.00 am and I have been waiting since past 3 hours……."
"Relax Mister, I am in a meeting and you are not supposed to barge in like that….."
"I have every right to do that……you should not have given the appointment if you were busy in something or else you should have informed the people waiting outside…… I am not a fool to keep waiting for 3 hours and to be told to come next day….."
"You were waiting out of your own wish…….you could have gone much earlier, but you waited as you wanted to work with RK group……"
"Sorry Sir, but you are sadly mistaken……..I hardly care for people who have money but no manners, no ethics, no professionalism and no value for other's time………..I don't want to work with you……," he pointed his finger over him, "but, just wanted to tell you how you have lost on the little respect that I had for you…."
Rahul just smiled.
Simran was just floored to see Shantanu's attitude……..since childhood, she had seen people on their knees before her dad and now her extremely powerful brother. She had never seen anyone speak so loudly to anyone in their family and she felt that Shantanu was raising his voice correctly and he was right …….
Shantanu slammed the door and dashed out of the RK office…….. he was late for the other meetings too so he cancelled going for another disaster and decided to go home instead….
He also chucked his lunch and was frustrated at another day wasted.
'Instead of going for this RK ………..I should have sat at home and composed some music, would have made a better use of my time……'
He went to his apartment, changed quickly and rushed for another meeting in the afternoon……… an old friend was organizing a concert as a part of an event management company and he had told Shantanu that his boss knew many people in the industry and could give him a chance to play at the concert for 1-2 songs !!
When he came back to the building in the evening he was completely tired and exhausted…….with heavy leags he simply strolled inside …………just to see Khanak sitting at the wall that was a boundary to the garden area…………..where he had waited for her once…..
He was seeing her after almost 10 days but it felt as if they had talked just yesterday when she had come to his apartment and had forgiven him.
A broad smile swept on his face which he realized after a long time when he observed that he had stopped where he was and stood observing her……….his exhaustion was waning slowly and he felt refreshed……..
Something happened deep within, he felt a 'tug' somewhere but couldn't guess what had just happened………he simply shrugged and walked towards her. She was having popcorn from a paper box in her hand.
"Good evening !!" he spoke almost startling her.
"Hey………….good evening……….." she looked at him surprised and gave him a broad smile, "……..didn't see you since so many days………I thought you have left the building………"
"Of course………….why not !! Though you had planned that ways…………but I survived !!" he shrugged.
She giggled and offered him the box in her hand, "Popcorn??"
"Thanks…." He picked up a few and asked, "but what makes you sit here?? Has your landlady thrown you out of your house?"
"Sheeeshhh !!! Speak good and good will happen to you……" she frowned at him, making him smile. She continued, "I'm sitting here as there is a power cut……..and it is too hot upstairs……"
"Oh No !!!" he made a disgusted face and looked around to notice many people taking a walk, kids playing in the garden area and aunties standing and chatting near the parking area, "since how long??"
"It just went off half an hour back……..I think it will take 2-3 hours to come back…."
"Gawwdd !! Another bad day !!" he spoke in frustration and elevated himself to sit beside her.
"Why bad day? Just because you met me?" she asked in a sharp tone.
He looked at her and nodded pressing his lips, before speaking, "I didn't take 'your' name……"
"But you meant like that….." she accused him.
"You are not God to guess what I meant………and by the way, you are not 'that' important that you become the epicenter of every problem that I am facing……. Though you run high risk of becoming one….."
"Look, I am just not interested in fighting right now………..sit quietly, if you want to. Already I am so upset……" she said in a low tone.
He realized that even he did not want to fight with her………..he already had a very bad day today and all he wanted to do was go to his apartment and sleep but as there was power cut, there was no point going up and sit steaming in the hot !!
He remembered his bad day and then felt bad for her that even she was upset at something………
"Why are you upset, by the way?"
"Let it be………..why does it matter to you ? You only know how to trouble me……" she accused him again but this time in a low and sad tone.
He felt bad when he saw her sad face……….. he was used to her irritated fighting mode or giggles but somehow didn't like the depression on her face !!
'It is not only me, who is having a tough time, it seems……….'
'She appears to be in a bad state……….'
'What could be the reason?? Is her landlady asking her to vacate the apartment?"
'Or does she not have the money to pay the rent, the bills or some other expenses……?'
'Tough life, it is…………may be someone in her family is not well…………or that silly friend of hers who guides her like a 'love guru'…….'
'Maybe she lost her job……….'
'Oh God !! No point making stupid guesses………….there could be loads of reasons…… How do I ask her?'
'I think I should ask her………….'
"Hey, where are you lost?" she looked at his face and found him thinking deeply.
"Err…………..nothing………." he shrugged, "I was just thinking that what made you so upset………..if you don't mind, you can tell me………..'IF'……….it is not something very personal…"
"No, it isn't very personal, but…………….I am so sad and depressed, I don't want to trouble anyone else with my own problems……."
"It's okay……….you can tell me………….May be I can help……"
"Mmm……………It's my friend's birthday tomorrow and I have nothing nice to wear for the evening……."
He was stunned, "Whattt !!!!!!! THIS is your life's biggest problem…..??"
She nodded, "Right now, it is…….."
"Khanak, just tell me seriously……..do you do all this purposefully when you see me or you ARE like that?"
"I AM like that Shantanu……….but what did I do?" she asked innocently.
"Aaarrrgghhh !!!! Nothing………….leave it………..why was I even trying to know you…..??"
"See, I told you that I don't want to trouble anyone else…….."
"No you didn't trouble me…………I am as worried as you for your problem………Tch Tch……………so sad………..that is a huge problem………" he spoke hiding a little smile.
"Will you stop making fun of me?" she said irritated.
"Sorry, sorry !!" he chuckled, "I have a very good idea ……… why don't you buy a new dress for this grand occasion." He had said jokingly but this clicked with her.
"What an idea? Great !!!!! I didn't think about it………..it has been a long time since I shopped. Thanks…………fine, I'll buy a new dress today," her eyes sparkled amusing him no end.
He was still looking at her when she jumped and straightened herself, and said, "I'll go and bring my purse..."
"You are going NOW?" he was surprised.
"Yeah………..it's already 7.00 pm and we won't have power for another 3 hours………we can't go up and sit in the dark and hot………so, a shopping mall is much better to spend time at ?"
"Hmm……..I think, you are right………" he nodded looking at the dark building.
"Will you come with me?" she asked him in an excited tone.
"Me?" he was surprised for a minute and awkwardly shrugged.
"Yeah, come with me………..you can roam around in the mall till I shop………..at least it will be air-conditioned………"
He imagined the cool shopping mall………… looked at her and the way she smiled……. ………… and forgot that he had a bad day………….. forgot that he was tired……… …… forgot that he wanted to sleep or eat !!!
"Let's go !!" he smiled.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
