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"Why on Earth, we fell for each other?", Ananya's mind was frustrated. She was sitting in his cabin, waiting for his arrival.
"Hei, stop this. What would Ronnie think about me?"
"We are like chalk and cheese. He would never fulfil my expectation. Nor I can ever change myself for his demands. How come, we got pulled towards each other?", she felt like pulling her hair.
By then he entered the cabin. Mr. Kabir Sharma, Editor in Chief, calm and composed, as if nothing ever happened.
"It is is too hot here, even with the AC". He took out his coat and put it on his chair. She felt like strangling him. But controlled her urge.
"Do you think, you forgot to say anything?", she looked at him with expectation.
"Yes. Yesterday you said you have got a lead on malpractices in admission for reputed colleges. If you can make a story by 9:00PM, it would be great. Very soon, exam results will be out. It would help parents to take decision." He was so involved in the matter, he did notice the query on her face.
"Does he ever bother to give any explanation?", she thought. She decided to try another way.
"You know? Yesterday night I spoke to Ronnie over the phone. We got patched up. We are going out for a dinner tonight". He seemed least bothered.
"Patch up? For the n'th time? I would suggest you people not to go out for dinner every time you patch up. Itne saare break up/patch up hote hei aap logon ke beech, ek maheene mei. I understand, why you people are putting on weight."
"How can you make fun of us like this? I am going to tell this to Ronnie", Ananya got up from her chair furiously. Kabir got alarmed and held her hand.
"Hei, stop this. What would Ronnie think about me?"
"So you care about his feelings. But not bothered about mine", Kabir saw her angry face. He felt like pulling her red cheeks. Unfortunately, his cabin had glass walls. He held her and made her sit on her chair and spoke to her calmly.
"Your feelings? Yes, I don't know how to care. I can't separate you from me, as you are mine. As you know, I don't know how to take care of myself either." His girl still did not appear cheerful. He sensed something has gone wrong.
"Sorry. I never thought, a light hearted comment would upset you so much".
"How on Earth you thought, I will have all the time in the world to worry about nothing but your stupid bakwaas?", she snapped again. He was relieved. His sherni was normal as usual.
"Fine then. Tell me. What has made you so upset?". His words just opened all her frustration she has bottled up so far.
"Yesterday, Malavika had come to your house again. Right?", now Kabir started to sense where she is coming from.
"I heard from Manav Sir. On one side here I am, who keeps you updated about everything. Where I am going, with whom I am going, what I am going to do".
Kabir tried his best to appear that he listening to her attentively. He could not afford to take one more risk by commenting what he felt, "yeah, the most boring stuff". Ananya's fury was not over yet.
"On the other side I find you, who thinks he does not owe any explanation to anybody". She could have felt relieved after venting it out. But his non diminishing smile increased her frustration further.
"Okay, what explanation you need? Yes, she had come with work related to merger. She stayed back because..", she cut him in the middle.
"You don't need to give me any reasoning. I know you. But the office, who gossips about you..., don't you think you need to be a bit vocal to clear your name from getting messed up each time?"
Yes, Ananya was frustrated. She was concerned. She was protective about the man whom she loved, from being misunderstood in the society again and again. Kabir sighed, his voice became serious.
"Ananya, there are two possibilities on what happened yesterday. One, "it happened". Another, "nothing happened". Also, there will be two versions about what happened yesterday. One, what I say. Another, what will be perceived by them.
Yes, nothing happened yesterday. But even if anything else had happened, I would have said the same.
Regarding the society you are talking about; If I say "yes, we did", they will say "we always knew". If I say "No, we didn't", they will say, "he is simply lying".
So no matter whatever happens, person in my position will always say "nothing happened". No matter what the person says, society tends to believe "it happened".
Given this situation, tell me Ananya. Do I owe them any explanation?". His voice showed, he is disturbed. Ananya realised, unintentionally she had opened up his old wounds. Now she has to do something for the damage control.
"Obviously, we have past the stage of saying sorry to each other. Do you think, I should cancel my dinner programme with Ronnie tonight?".
"No. No. You people must go. Definitely". This time Kabir was careful, not letting a PJ to ruin her mood. "I heard, the new Pizza Hut near our office is very good. What are you planning to have?" But somehow, his stars were not with him today.
"Baingan ka bharta", Ananya looked so agitated. He was confused. What mistake did I commit this time?
She continued, "I thought I should make up with you first".
"So you mean, you want to go out... WAIT, What did you say?", he tried to tone down his voice as well as excitement. If it was not office, he would have whistled.
"The skipping of two words before making up. Was it deliberate?".
"I thought, you are intelligent enough to understand. Now, let me complete my story for 9:00 PM", she left his cabin.
But his mind had gone past that bulletin.
Anupamaa
