Part 6a
Ananya had woken up to the darkness. She looked around in helplessness. Scared she was but then, hyperventilation hadn't strike her like earlier times. May be she has been used to pain and fear. Bracing up, she patted her hands around trying to locate her bag. Dampness was covering her forehead but she kept on going, tapping and tracing the buttons, switches until she caught hold of her bag strip.
Quickly grabbing it, she opened the zip and took out her mobile. Finally she felt stable seeing the hint of light lite it displayed. Mentally she kicked herself for not getting her mobile flash check as recommended by Richa and others and so was now unable to put on torch. Anyways, she checked the time and realized that everyone must have left. It was strange that she slept that deeply in months. May be, the feeling of having him around did the magic.
Getting up, she put the bag on her shoulder and in the dim light, moved towards the door when it flashed open and a direct light hit her eyes, making her hand raise up to block the sudden flash.
"Ananya" next, his breathless voice hit her ears as her heart beat rises. She felt herself in some trance.
Realizing that the light was making it hard for her to look, he pulled that away and moving closer, held her arm.
"Tum...Tum theek ho?" His concern was evident from the tone.
For a moment, she was happy to hear it. For realizing that he still remembers her fears. For the moment, her heart was jumping on feeling him close but then, his words from few days earlier strike her mind. He didn't wish to see her here. He didn't want to have her close. So moving her hand away, she looked back at him.
Her eyes teared up on seeing the face that she had been just seeing in dreams from the last few months. Or in her imaginations. Or the rare pics of them together she had.
Jerking her hand, she slowly moved back a step and wet her lips.
"Main theek hoon...SIR" She emphasized on Sir, letting the distance between them grow.
His hand stilled hearing the unfamiliarity in her voice. No matter how much he wanted her to forget him, he was never prepared for this formality in her tone.
Helplessly, he looked at her, searching for any source of awareness. A tear dropped on her cheek that she harshly pushed away and turned towards the door but ended up getting her knee hurt by the desk in the way.
"Ouch..." She said in pain holding the place as Kabir lurched forward to help.
"Sambhal ke...". His hands moved up to hold her but was stopped.
"Fine...i am fine...appko fikar karne ki koi zaroorat nahi" Clenching her teeth she said and got up to go, limping on few steps.
"Ananya...Ruko...Elevators nahi chal rahin...Stairs se jana hoga" He informed from behind on seeing her moving towards the elevators.
But as if she hasn't heard him at all, even if seeing all the lights switched off, she pressed the elevator buttons, once, twice and then repeatedly till her frustration died but not giving up, she hunched towards the stairs, ignoring his repeated voices.
The hurt knee and even more hurt heart had made tears rushed out from her eyes, making her eyes blur but she kept moving down all through the stairs. At few points, she was about to slip but had narrow escapes. He rushed behind her trying to help but she ignored all his protests.
Finally, they were down. He ran an anxious and all too helpless hsnd over his face thanking God for not letting her trip and fall down through those steps.
But being stubborn, feeling immensely hurt, she walked towards the bus stop that was right opposite to the office building, hoping to catch up a bus as the hotel was just on the walking distance from the next bus stop.
Kabir had seen her moving but knew, saying something right now was useless so he moved towards his car and found the driver waiting up for him.
Rubbing off her arms Ananya sat down onto chairs while biting her lower lip tightly to not let the sobs out. This feeling, this breaking up that she felt inside herself was too harsh for her to bear. She wanted to be alone, having her privacy in her hotel room before wailing out loud. Brushing away the idiot tears she looked up at the board that was indicating the time distance of next coming bus. 5 minutes, it said.
But it was just few seconds before she heard a horn from the front. She looked at the point of source just to see Kabir rolling down his side of car glass still looking ahead.
She knew what he meant by this. This was all too familiar gesture for him to not let go of his emotions but she was not going to melt this time.
He saw her looking away from the corner of his eyes and closed them momentarily to take a deep sigh.
Still so stubborn...but there was no way in hell that he would let her go alone in such a night.
"Dobara horn do" he asked his indian driver who did it as instructed but just like before, she didn't budge.
Feeling furious himself now, he get down and marched towards her in stiff steps.
"Ananya...gussa choro or chalo...main tumhain hotel tak drop kar deta hoon"
"Chor tau app pehle hi chukay hain..." She uttered in a whispered like tone but he had heard it and was defenseless.
Silence prevailed between them for few minutes before she cleaned her face and got up.
"Dont worry Sir...mujhe agar pehle patah hota k mere anay se apki zindagi itni mushkil ho jaye gi tau main yahan kabhi na ati...likin bus kuch hi din or...channel launch ho jaye...main appke input editor ko tab tak sab sikha doon or agle hi din, main wapis chali jaoon gi...apki is hansti khelti zindagi se dour...phir koi stupid reporter apko nahi jhelni paray gi" Kabir felt himself break down once again seeing the pain that she was going through.
But before he can lung forward, shake her as how can she think that her presence is a source of disturbance for his peace of mind, her bus approached and she hop in quickly as if trying to run away and at her back, he was standing clutching his outstretched hand.
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The next few days, as much as he tried to keep himself away, he felt all too similar pull towards her. But in these days, as much as he used to wish earlier, she stopped sneaking away to meet him, to look at him and he was missing it.
She was looking more focused, more involved in her work that was good for her professional front but on personal level, she was mum.
Day by day, the whole all to familiar feeling of lose was hitting her once again, but if earlier, she knew that this dark tunnel will have a light at the end of the day, this time, she knew, their will be no light. Their will be no one waiting for her. Will be no one whom she could say sorry and make up with. No one to trust her, hold her, support her. And just that feeling was killing her insides.
Days turned into a weeks and Kabir was smacking his head to the invisible wall.
"Hum aisay nahi reh sakte...baat karni hogi...mujhe us say baat karni hai" He was firm.
Rolling up his sleeves, he moved towards the PCR room just to see her talking with the red-head name George but what flared him more was the look that the young lad was throwing her way. NO WAY!
"Ananya, mujhe tum se baat karni hai" He finally muttered up, making her aware of his presence. Not that she didn't feel it before.
"Agar professional baat hai tau app yahin kar sakte hain...warna mujhe koi baat nahi karni..." She replied straight-forwardly. George looked up from one person to another as he was so unable to understand what these Indians were talking about.
"Should I go out?" He asked hesitantly as it was not everyday that he got to meet Kabir. Mostly Malvika handle PCR. Beside, he was too afraid of this man.
"No, no need" Ananya tried to assure him but Kabir was not letting this chance go.
"I think you should..." And George was quick to get away from him.
Ananya held back her anger for the total of 10 seconds before saying.
"I think, mujhe bhi jana chahiye..." But right there, Kabir turned her chair and leaned down on her, keeping his hands on both arm rests, blocking her way.
An expression of pained ran through his face.
"Mere saath aisa kyun kar rahi ho tum..." at his statement, she finally look up with a flare in her eyes.
"Main appke saath kia kar rahi hoon, SIR. Kar bhi kia sakti hoon main...Haq nahi hai mera koi... Main tau bus aik employee hoon appki...jaise mujhe instructions milte hain main wohi karti hoon..."
"Enough Ananya..." He straightened up, running a frustrated hand in his gelled hairs.
"I really think its enough Sir...appko yahan se jana chahiye" With her head ducked she said it. Her fingers curling around the finger where his ring used to stick before. It churned him. Giving one last glare, he left the room and premises of the office. He can't work today anymore.
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Another week passed on. Ananya and Kabir both were drowning themselves up in work leaving no spare moments to think of eachother.
If Ananya was not working with George, she is either with Malvika discussing shows schedule or going along with her to the venue where KKN will held the entertainment launch party. Apparently, Kabir had kept himself away from the party stuff.
But each moment, just as their thoughts crossed eachother, they both felt the heart dip.
"Haq nahi hai mera koi..." She had said and that burned him.
"Har haq, apnay oper saray haq maine tumhain diye thay Ananya...Phir kaise tum keh sakti ho k Haq nahi hai..."
"Haq samjh k hi tau naraz howi thi...haq tha, tab hi tau gussa tha k app nay sab jantay boojhtay jhoot bola mujhse... Papa k case ki sachai chupai... Main janti hoon k app majbor thay, Monu ka sooch k...Main samjh sakti hoon...agar Armaan Monu ki jagha hota tau main bhi shayad wohi karti jo appne kia... Likin haq jatana hi tau bhari par gaya mujhe" She scratched her hand while sitting beside Malvika who had pulled her for some shopping.
"You must buy something on my behalf Ananya...Itnay short notice pe, you have helped us with the things...I owe you this much...Come on...wahan I can see some good dresses" Holding her hand, Malvika made her move even after she has politely refused her offer but than Malvika was Malvika.
"Wow...this is good...Hai na...Come on...try karo isay" Malvika said it after looking through the line of dresses before pulling out a black knee length dress made up of net, silk and lace.
"Malvika...Please app try kar lo...Main kuch simple sa dekhon gi..." Ananya excused.
"No way...tum yehi dekho gi...come on..." And hesitantly, Ananya had to do what she was asked to.
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It was finally the launch ceremony. People from different leagues have gathered in to celebrate the event. KL was present and he made sure Kabir was along with him each step as he moved from one person to another.
Many bollywood celebs, tv actors, promoters, partners were gracing the event but Kabir Sharma was looking for just one face into the whole crowd.
"Malvika...please let that be...Event start ho gaya hoga..." Ananya said as Malvika rolled yet another set of her hairs, making them fall into soft waves along with a make up artist she had invited to her room to get ready for the event.
"Ananya...its just you jiss ko main yahan pehle se janti hoon...and getting ready alone is no fun...Just this last one...and see...we are ready..." Malvika gave one of the brightest smiles while donning a royal blue sleeveless gown that was effectively gracing each part of her body. Her hairs were rolled up in a sweet bun at a side.
While Ananya's hairs were done in soft waves falling on her shoulders as she graced that black dress. Her ears were wearing small black studs as her hand was adorned with a silver and a black beaded bracelet. Both were wearing 3 inch high heels that were adding an extra height and grace to their posture. After months, Ananya was feeling herself beautiful.
Malvika's phone buzzed with a call. "Yes, we are coming down..." She said and hurried up Ananya after they both catch hold of their clutches.
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I seriously dont know how this part has turned up...so breaking it in two...
If you think this part was apt, then I will cont otherwise will amend it and end the story...
HONEST COMMENTS please :)
Edited by ..oneOone.. - 9 years ago
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