FF: The Horizon Ch 55(a) ,55 (b) & Epilogue-page 144 updated 5th J - Page 8

Originally posted by: awida

Wonderful update.

Love Mrs Akhtar. She seems like a true friend to Anu, I hope she stands by her in need.

Rajat was waiting to see Anu. That is very cute. And Anu was thinking of him all the day. This is cuter. Love this hide and seek game of Anu. But till when can she escape meeting Rajat?

Loved it. Simply brilliant 👏
Ohh, so Rajat was waiting for anu the whole day 😉 sounds cool
I like your way of writing, awsome
Want to read more , pls update the next part soon
Eagerly waiting for their next meeting😳

Originally posted by: LoneSoldier

😊 Thanks Manisha! Believe me, this is going to be an interesting, thrilling ride for us all. at present, I am only making preliminary arrangements!😊

wow...
these were only the arrangements then i cant wait for the ride to start :)

Wow j7st loved it keep updating

Superb writing.. Waiting for the next update 😉

(Original&copyrighted)

Chapter 5

There was a loud guffaw followed by a number of male voices , all talking at the at the same time. Anu stopped in her tracks and involuntarily shrank back. Now, what was going on?

Anu had woken up very early in the morning, prepared for her lectures, breakfasted, packed her lunch and got ready for work. Having climbed down the rickety staircase at the back of the house, she was making her way through the side passage and out of the back garden so that she could go round the house and reach the front gate . Then , she could get out of the house without drawing attention to herself or being visible to anyone who may be sitting in the lounge and reception areas of Sareen uncle's house. It was a carefully planned and timed route- but it was interrupted now. Somebody or rather a lot of somebody's appeared to be standing at the front gate itself. Stepping back , Anu stealthily put her head around the corner and peeped to see what was going on. There was Rajat -standing with his back to the house and in front of him two other men-probably around his own age- standing around a parked car and chatting as though the gate, the road and the world- all belonged to them!

Screwing her face in annoyance Anu turned around, thought for a moment and went up the rickety staircase . Once upstairs, she had an idea. After searching for sometime in the kitchen closet, she found a large bunch of keys from which she painstakingly searched out what she needed- a large brass key .

This was the key she needed to open the big , creaky wooden gate at the bottom of the back garden - a gate nobody ever bothered to open because the gardener, like everyone else , used the front gate.

Having found the key, Anu ran downstairs. After struggling with the lock for a few minutes, she managed to open the wooden gate. She then went up again, picked up her bag and books , came down , locked the garden door behind her and stepped out on to the road. Free at last, she breathed with relief and walked briskly to catch up on the lost time.

The day was going well for Anu. Firstly, she had managed to get out of the house without coming face-to-face with anyone in the Sareen family. Then, the two lectures delivered by her were "excellent" said Mrs Akhtar. A great many students had also expressed interest to join the Afternoon Botany club' Anu wanted to start.

By lunch time , Anu was pleasantly tired and was biting into her cheese-salad sandwich when Mrs Akhtar asked her casually:

"Got any more of those lovely Swiss chocolates? I feel like something sweet today!"

Anu swallowed the cheese and cucumber in her mouth.

" Sorry Mrs Akhtar, I did not bring any today...but I could nip to the college canteen and get you something- a cake or a chocolate bar perhaps!"

But looked like Mrs Akhtar wanted Swiss chocolates and nothing else - because she politely declined Anu's offer and proceeded to open her lunch box, after which they both ate in silence.

The day , unfortunately, was not going very well for someone. In fact it felt like a total fail! Rajat, had backed out of Sareen uncle's plan to take him to the office to show him uncle's ever-expanding business . Rajat had also turned down his friends who had wanted him to go out with them for the day! He had cancelled his morning run today so that he had shaved showered and got ready very early - all to one purpose. The purpose of catching sight of Anu when she left for work in the morning. Not an easy task because he did not know the exact time of her leaving plus she did not seem to take any vehicle-the sound of which could alert him.

And so it was that Rajat cancelled all his engagements and like the previous evening, spent time watching the stair case and the front gate - without catching so much as a glimpse of his elusive neighbour.

It was around 6 in the evening, when Sareen walked in with Shastri ji at his side.

"So, what have you been up to all day?" Sareen said as soon as he saw Rajat "Something better than coming to my office, I imagine"

"Nothing much-just resting in the house" came the reply.

Sareen looked like a thunderbolt had struck him. In all these years, he had never known Rajat to stay in and rest a whole day! And why was his handsome nephew looking like a sour bear?

"Are you all right son?" Sareen bent forward to place his palm on Rajat's forehead - to see if he had any fever.

Just then , Minty came in with the tea tray . Shastri ji meanwhile, was busy texting on his phone- looking a bit concerned as he did so.

"What happened? Everything okay?" Minty asked as she offered him tea.

"Yes, yes, thank you" Shastri ji replied " It's just that Anu hasn't returned yet. She wasn't upstairs when I came back-and since then I haven't seen her go up, so I am texting her to see if she needs to be picked up"

This bit of information had the effect of startling Rajat from his sour mood. He picked up his cup, complimented his aunt on the snacks and proceeded to enjoy his tea.

"Come on Shastri , Anu is a responsible girl-she'll let you know if it gets too late..." Sareen said. Anu was his personal favourite-he couldn't tolerate any criticism of her-even in a light vein.

"Girls now -a -days, they're really so..., I mean such ..."

Minty could not complete whatever it was that she wanted to say for right then Shastriji's phone rang.

Shastriji answered the phone, smiled and stood up. As his gaze reverted to the puzzled faces of Sareen, Minty and Rajat he smiled again.

"It was Anu, she's already at home - making dinner she says-I must have missed her coming in" Shastri ji explained.

You and me both, thought Rajat sourly , you and me both.

Rajat's brows furrowed in thought as the same question returned with renewed vigour .

How and when did Anu come back into the house ?

The whole neighbourhood had popped in to visit the Sareens over the past couple of days. But not her. Could it be possible that she was doing this -being discrete -on purpose. Maybe to avoid him ... surely not!

Rajat could not remain sour-faced for long as Sareen and Minty began to happily discuss their preparations for Holi over the next two days. Tomorrow night, there would be Holika dahan followed by a grand Holi party the day after.

The day of Holika dahan dawned bright and clear. Early in the morning, Anu received

a text message from Mrs Akhtar - all post-lunch lessons were cancelled today and as Botany lectures were time-tabled for the afternoon, anu could take the day off!

It was nice to have 2 days of holidays straight into the weekend! Anu lay in bed for a long time, had a leisurely breakfast and long soak in the tub. Her childhood friend Devyani rang to say that she would not be able to join her for Holi as she was going to celebrate Holi in her village this year. Although a bit disappointed, Anu decided to make the most of the holidays. She had a new dress- a beautiful cream and gold lehenga choli set. She had tried it on earlier. The lehenga with it's intricate work, the chiffon dupatta with little bells sewed to one edge made her look divine- Devyani had decreed. She would wear it tonight. She would also make some sweets -maybe a bit of gulab jamuns & some kheer!

Shastri ji watched as his lovely daughter ran around the house in her Holi excitement and the sight brought a tear to his eye. If only Anu's Mother had been alive, she would have been so proud of her beautiful, intelligent daughter. Wiping his tears quickly before Anu could see them , he joined her in the preparations.

The night sky although not fully clear, was clear enough to show some stars. The moon cast a milky beam every now and then - as he moved from one cloud to another. The flames of the Holika burned brightly , happy voices and the fragrance of fresh sweets filled the air as the entire neighbourhood gathered outside Sareen House. Rajat was standing opposite the fire chatting with a few of his friends when an elderly gentleman from the neighbourhood began to speak to him. Now, the elderly gentleman was a prosy man prone to digressing from topic to topic. Besides, he had the habit of physically turning the person to whom he was talking towards himself. Consequently, Rajat had to turn towards him and pay full attention.

This is how Rajat was seen by Anu as she looked from her window upstairs. Not one to delay and lose chances, she quickly ran downstairs. Smiling and waving at anybody who might have stopped her for a conversation, she went up to the fire bowed respectfully , wished Minty & Sareen a Happy Holi and whizzed past them before the elderly gentleman finished his lengthy speech and Rajat turned around .

Rajat would not have even known of her arrival and departure if someone from behind had not called out just then-

"Anu...Anushka! where did she go , Minty Aunty?"

"I don't know" said Minty looking around here and there ,"she was here just now!"

Rajat had turned round in a flash . His eyes scanned the crowd speedily. It was clear that she had disappeared again. It was also clear that he was right in his suspicions-she was doing this on purpose -to avoid him. But how? How could she go and come unnoticed in front of so many people unless...Rajat began to smile.

He had grown up in this house and lived here until he joined the Air force. How had he not known, how had he not thought of this before?

It was cold and quiet in the back garden. The laughter, the loud voices and the crackle of the fire seemed far away. The lone light in the back garden didn't seem to be working. Anu held up her flowing long lehenga and picking her way carefully, she began to ascend the old staircase. She had hardly climbed a few steps when something told her that she was not alone . Attempting to climb while turning around to look, she caught her foot in the edge of her lehenga and tripped backwards.

The sudden slip caused Anu to let out a gasp and a tiny yelp. She fell straight backwards into the arms of Rajat Sareen. At that very moment, the moon slid out of a large patch of clouds and the garden was bathed in milky light. Anushka's face was a picture of shock and disbelief as she stared wide eyed into Rajat' s smiling face.

"Caught you" he said so softly, that afterwards she would wonder if he had actually said it or was it her imagination ?

nice update.it took so long Rajat to see Anu.i hope in ur next update there will be some beautiful AnuRaj moments😊

All the parts r amazing!!! It's getting interesting even more!! I hope u update the next part soon can't wait for AnuRaj convo!!! 😛

i have completely fallen in love with ur story and fawning over the characters 😆
i look forward to read the updates and just go moony eyed whenever i see an update...
i love this hide and seek game of anu😆 as it heightens rajat's expectations and makes him go all the more curious... finally he has caught her and am looking forward to their conversation..how she is going to fumble around him, he is going to tease her to death and to see what more is in store for these two fav characters of mine😆

awesome update !!! finally rajat caught anu 😳 loving this ff 👍🏼 each part is amazing plz update soon ...I'm waiting