Chapter 3
Shaan was sleeping in his small dark room, he seemed worried, well he was having a nightmare, he couldn't escape from it since that terrible accident.
It was late night, 8 years ago. Shaan was driving that day after having a few drinks during the celebration of their hit song: Tu Meri Jaan. He was not that drunk, but while singing & chatting with his buddies they suddenly got into a rift. Sam was sititng next to him, he was arguing with Amit & Natasha, Shaan was trying to cool down the atmosphere. Then he ended up by loosing his control, he wasn't looking at the road anymore & the car went right into the car who was coming on the opposite side of the small road, both collide hitting each other & Shaan's car ended up without any control straight into a tree on the street.
Shaan then had the scenes of the hospital on the same night, usually he had the habit back then of having that same scene where he is in front of Sam's body in the hospital, he was badly bleeding & unconscious along with Natasha. Shaan was there crying along with the other member, Amit. Shaan was holding Sam's hand & saying that everything will be alright. But this time in the same moment, there was a girl on the bed next to Sam's, a nurse was checking the body. Shaan was unable to see the face properly due to the mask oxygen covering the patient's mouth & nose.
Shaan woke up from his nightmare, he was sweating, he sat up & went to his desk to serve himself a glass of water. He had many questions on his mind as of why he is having this nightmare after a long time that too with someone else in it, who was the other patient & what does it have to do with him...
The next day, Khanak's parents are still searching for a match & after several days she felt to make them understand that she has no intentions to marry soon or even to join the family business. Khanak wants to become an interior designer, she did her studies well & she wants to stand on her own feet, to do something which she likes. After a few argues, Khanak then took one of a big decision of her life, she decided to settle down elsewhere until her father understand & accepts what her daughter wants. All those months she was fighting, try gin to make them understand but she failed, she is fed up, she has no hopes!
Khanak packed all her things, her father was so mad at her, he ordered her to stay quietly at home otherwise he would not even give one rupee to her. Khanak didn't wanted his money, all she wanted was the understanding & caring of her father. Khanak's sister Ananya tried to stop her but she also knows how badly her young sister wants to do something in her life before marrying someone. Khanak has nowhere to go, but she assured her parents that she's gonna share the flat with one of her close friend. Ananya secretly arranged a small rented flat & helped her to move there. Khanak finished up cleaning here & there with the help of her sister, she then went to the market alone.
On her way she came across Shaan who was riding his bike, she was surprised to see him there & went to greet him.
Khanak: - What a pleasant surprise, how are you doing Shaan?
Shaan: - I'm fine what about you & what are you doing in our neighbourhood?
Khanak: - Oh...I'm doing ok, well I moved on here two days ago.
Shaan: - Kya? I mean, aap yahaan?
Khanak: - Haan, kyun, why can't I stay here? Should I have to take someone's permission?
Shaan: - I didn't meant that...Anyways do you need my help?
Shaan helped Khanak to bring what she bought from the supermarket near by. While entering into the flat, Shaan was pretty impressed to see such a rich girl leaving there. It was pretty nice but small & simple perfect for somebody like him who comes from a middle class family. She asked him to sit comfortably while she make him some tea, Shaan refused but she insisted.
The wall of the small living-room was painted with various colours such as pink, white & orange.There was a small couch on the floor with lots of books on the floor next to it, a small brown table near by with a flowerpot on it. Khanak offered him a cup of tea & some biscuits, they started chatting for a while.
Shaan: - So for how long are you gonna stay there?
Khanak: - Hme...patha nahi until I settle down with my work.
Shaan: - You are not working for your dad's company?
Khanak: - Nope, that's why I'm here, I wanna persure my career as an interior designer. What about you, what do you do?
Shaan: - I run a small shop with my sister & brother-in-law.
Khanak: - Oh, nice, I'll surely come to your shop.
Khanak was about to take the tea cups but Shaan's cup collapses on her leg. He felt bad, he apologized & was about to help her but she assured him.
Shaan: - Aaap tik hai?
Khanak: - It's ok...Well I can't feel any pain on my legs so ...
Shaan felt bad, he wanted to help her cleaning but she refused. It was time for him to leave, he said goodbye & Khanak promised him to pass by his shop next time & she thanked him again.
This time while saying goodbye to him, she smiled, seeing her like this made Shaan feel better, he was glad to see her smiling. On his way back to the shop on his bike, Shaan thought how strange was Khanak Mehra, sometimes rude, weird & then suddenly she turns nice & innocent. Well he never met someone like her before, she was unique!
A week later, Khanak signed a contract with a small, well-known interior designer agency of Mumbai. She always wanted to join them, she passed the interview. Today is her first day at work, she started working on her first project, she was confident & happy.
On her way back to home, her step-mother was waiting outside near the door of her flat. Khanak was surprised to see her there but also afraid of her reaction once she'll come to know about the fact that she is living there alone. Khanak opened the door, her step-mother was looking around while she was making her some tea. She asked her why there is just one room, she asked her about her roommate. Khanak gave her a glass of juice, she was hesitating about her answer but she decided to tell her the truth & requested her to not tell anything to her father as she doesn't want him to be more worried. As usual her step-mother went mad, arguing that from the day she entered into their happy life she just ruined everything, now her father just keeps worrying about her more than his own business & anything else. Before leaving she warned Khanak to find a roommate before things become complicated & that whenever she likes it or not they'll definitely get her married this year.
On the same night, after finishing up her dinner Khanak went to read a book before sleeping. She was actually restless & couldn't stop thinking about the words said by her step-mother. Was it her fault if her biological father wanted her to live with them after her mother's death...She can never understand her step-mother but she knows that she will always hate her as after all she is the other woman's daughter.
The next morning, Khanak was on her way to see her 1st client's house, she had her handbag & a file on her hand. Suddenly a hand appeared from her back & grabbed her handbag. When she shouted, the guy started running, she was asking for help but no one was paying attention to her. Khanak tried to follow him on her wheelchair but she knew that with her speed she will never reach him. Shaan was their near by & saw the guy running, the guy crossed the road, Shaan then saw Khanak coming towards him, she was screaming. He didn't understood what's happening, she came across the road & he noticed a car coming straight away towards her side. Shaan saw it approaching & grabbed tightly her wheelchair while pushing her towards him, he saved her!
They both were rolling with each other while landing on the street. Shaan had his hands on her head, he asked her if she was alright but she didn't replied to him she had her eyes closed tightly, Some people came to them as they were curious, whereas the pick-pocketer was nowhere around. Shaan kept calling her name & she slowly started to open here eyes. Seeing all those people around, the cars passing by on the road, she was afraid, her heart was beating fast, she couldn't hear anything & couldn't even breathe properly. Shaan kept calling her, seeing her having problems to breath, he panicked & then decided to lift her so that he can bring her into a hospital .
Few hours later, Khanak was on a bed of an hospital, she was sleeping. The doctor who checked her came to Shaan, he said that she's fine, due to stress & the situation she had a panic attack. Shaan then went to khanak, he was just quiet & watching her sleeping like an innocent kid, she seemed to be at peace. Suddenly the same images from that nightmare came on Shaan's mind like pieces of an unfinished puzzle. His best buddy Sam was on a critical condition on the bed next to him, there was that girl with the oxygen mask covering a part of her face, Shaan was unable to see who she was...
Khanak on the other hand opened her eyes, she was looking around her & saw Shaan staring at her. She had some of her hair covering her right eye, he slowly took it away. Khanak then realised that she's in a hospital, she hated that feeling, she tried to get up but she wan unable to do it, Shaan helped her.
Shaan: - You have to take rest, I'll call your family so that they come to pick you.
Khanak: - Just call my sister Ananya, I don't wanna stay here now I'm fine...
Khanak was about to move & get up as if she forgot that she can't walk anymore, she then came back to her senses. Shaan called to inform her sister Ananya, he then lifted Khanak to put her in the wheelchair given by the doctor, she was just looking at him. He was conducting the wheelchair on the backside, he came along with her outside of the hospital. He then went to buy some coffee & came back to Khanak.
Shaan: - Aap tik hai?
Khanak was looking at him without saying anything, she then genuinely thanked him.
Khanak: - It's strange, this is the 2nd time you are saving me right?
Shaan: - Arre it's nothing...
Khanak: - I could have get into another accident...I was so scared, honestly speaking I hate being in hospitals!
Once again she was opening up more towards Shaan, every time he sees her he got to see a different side of Khanak. This time he got to know that Khanak got into an accident when she was 14 years old which made her like this.
Khanak: - Luckily I was alive but the one who was driving was my mother's brother, he was like a father for me, unfortunately he died on that day...
Shaan: - After all there is a positive side as you are alive & healthy enough to live.
Khanak: - Haan...
They smiled at each other.
Khanak: - Pata nahi kyun even though we are just strangers I feel safe around you...ajeeb hai na?
Shaan: - Haan, who toh hai, I'm not rich or aap ka friend but as a human being I just helped you baas...
Khanak was just smiling at him, she then looked away feeling a bit awkward.
Shaan: - If you you wanna cry, relieve yourself don't hide your tears behind your anger. And you look much better when you smile.
Khanak: - Hme...And what about you? You are good at saving people & giving advices, seems like something bother you every time I meet you.
Shaan was taken aback, he was looking here & there avoiding her eyes, he didn't know what to say. After all who she is to him, but why is he so into her as if he needs to protect her, be there for her. What was that connection? And why did he had that hospital scene of the nightmare when he was with Khanak today? Lots of questions were going on his mind.
Khanak: - Sorry, I guess I was asking too much...Anyways, so friends?
She was asking while offering her right hand to him, Shaan looked at her hand, he smiled at her accepting her friendship & shaking hands with her. Khanak's sister Ananya came to them & interrupted their little moment. She hugged her sister & thanked Shaan. He headed with them towards Ananya's car, after Khanak sat on the car, Ananya went next to him. She offered him some money thanking him, but Shaan refused, Khanak saw the entire scene through the side window inside the car. She then shut down it & talked to her sister.
Khanak: - Di what are you doing? Don't make him uncomfortable by doing this please, he is my friend!
Ananya: - Well sorry...
Shaan: - It's ok.
Ananya went inside the car & started it.
The same night, Shaan was about to close the shop but he met an old closed person who used to be his music group's manager, Mohan uncle. Shaan was surprised to see him, he is seeing him for the 1st time after the death of his best buddy Sam. He was glad to see Mohan & of course old good memories came back on his mind. Mohan asked him to have a talk with him around a few drinks, he agreed.
They went to a nice, small but cozy pub where youngsters perform songs at nights. While having some beers, Shaan was peacefully listening to the music performance, they were doing a medley of R.D Burman songs, what a pleasant surprise some are Shaan's all time favorite songs.
Mohan noticed that Shaan was so into the music rather than in their conversation, he asked him why he is working on a shop instead of pursuing a music career as a musician, composer or even as a music teacher. That question, he just hated it, people who used to know him since his teenage days always used to trouble him with that question. He was thinking, he wanted to avoid answering it, he looked at those youngsters singing. It reminded him of how he used to sing on R.D Burman's hits along with Sam & Naina, those were the best days ever. They were times when he thought of those good old days it made him smile, feel good but since Sam's death & the group's disband it only give him pain & guilt.
Mohan: - There is a famous radio who is working on a special music program & they are looking for a good RJ who has a good knowledge on old indian songs & western music as well. I think you'll be the perfect person for it, what say?
Shaan: - Mohan uncle, I'm happy with what I'm doing right now & I don't know if I can work on something related to music again but thanks for your concern.
To be continued...
Edited by rishani77 - 9 years ago
Shiv Shakti
