O Saahiba
The cold
brisk air whirled around him as he stepped out of the car. All the memories
from four years ago flooded back as he stood on the threshold of a place he had
come to many times in the past.
It had
been four years since he had last seen her. Four years since he had failed to
tell her how he felt. Four years since he let her go. Four years since his
heart had beaten. Four years since he had felt alive.
The large
house was decorated while keeping her taste in mind. Small twinkling lights
hung from the roof while the path was guided by black roses; something he
remembered she loved.
A small
smile came onto his otherwise emotionless face. This was not something he ever
thought he'd do.
Attend her
engagement to someone else.
His
eyelids fell over his eyes as he tried to erase the memories burning into his
mind. These were memories he kept locked away in his heart. Feeling them
rushing back was something he didn't want to feel. Not right now at this
moment.
Right now
he was supposed to be normal. He was attending this engagement as Preet
Juneja's colleague; having no connection to the to-be bride. The only girl who
had ever managed to make him fall in love. Rubina Singh.
She hated
being called that by him. She had always preferred being called her nickname,
Rinki. And now that he thought about it, he just loved annoying the hell outta
her being the only one to call her Rubina.
It gave
him a sense of originality in their bond. She was HIS Rubina and everyone
else's Rinki. He chose to be different and somehow more special for her.
Sighing,
he walked up the path to the house and walked in, a smile automatically at his
lips. If he thought the outside was suited to her tastes, the inside was her
everywhere. Blue drapes hung around the banister and the fragrance of coconut
filled his senses from every corner.
As he
looked around the large room he saw Preet standing in a beige sherwani
surrounded by friends and family.
A light
groan escaped his mouth as he worked up courage to go over to him and
congratulate him.
The plan
was simple enough. Congratulate him and leave before he found himself in her
proximity. If he could escape without interacting with her—he wouldn't have to
go down that excruciating path again.
As if God
was hell bent on ruining his life, he heard the commotion and people rushing up
the stairs; that was when he knew. She was coming.
He turned
so his back to face the large staircase and he walked over to Preet. "Congratulations Preet," he put out his hand with a pretentious smile on his
face.
Preet
turned to him and grinned widely. "Farid! Just the man I was looking for! I
thought you had cancelled on me." Preet grasped Farid's hand tightly.
Farid
smiled. "Na—I wouldn't do that," He handed Preet a small box and Preet shook
his head.
"Hand that
to her. Here she comes."
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
Farid held
his breath and turned slightly so that he saw her out of the corner of his
eyes.
He very
nearly dropped the box from his hands when he saw her walking down the stairs
dressed in a shimmering silver sari. He cracked a smile seeing her keeping her
eyes glued to the ground and her hand gripping the loose piece of fabric
tightly.
Others may
have found her looking shy at her own engagement but Farid knew better. She was
worried sick that she'd trip or that she put it on wrong and it would all come
out. Old memories brought it all back.
"Rinki,"
he saw Preet step forward and take her hand once she neared the bottom.
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
Farid's
heart ached when he saw him clasp her hand and the bright smile that lit up her
eyes.
She was
happy.
She was
happy with someone that wasn't him.
He turned
quickly before her eyes fell on him.
"Come with
me, you have to meet my new colleague. He's just joined our company." Preet
smiled as he led her over to where Farid stood.
His heart
began racing as he felt their footsteps get closer and closer. Until he felt
Preet's heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Here's my
to be fianc," Preet said as Farid turned slowly.
Farid's
eyes locked on Rubina's and he saw the surprise and shock register in her eyes.
"Rubina.
And Rinki this is Farid, my new friend."
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
She felt
the ground giving way underneath her as her eyes scanned over Farid.
His eyes
still had that intensity that always made her nervous. He had a bit of stubble
now but it suited the maturity on his face. Four years really did change a
person.
O
Saahiba, O Saahiba
"Won't you
both shake hands?" Preet smiled as the two continued memorizing
each other's
faces.
Rinki
glanced up at Preet who was smiling widely and she nodded, looking with
cautious eyes at Farid. She slowly held out her hand and a tiny gasp escaped
her lips when his cold skin touched hers.
Milenge
Tumse To Bataayenge
Ke Kitna Pyaar Hai Hume
"Pleased
to meet you," the formal cold edge from her voice pierced his heart and she
could see the pain reflect through his eyes.
He smiled
then, and nodded. "Same here,"
There was
a shaky edge to his voice that concerned her. But then she felt Preet tug on
her hand and turned to see him gesturing over to another group of friends. She
looked back at Farid who sighed softly before letting her hand out of his
grasp.
Milenge
Tumse To Bataayenge
Ke Kitna Pyaar Hai Hume
As she let Preet lead her over to another group she found her mind lost in
thoughts of Farid.
Seeing him
four years after the last time was such a shock to her. She had never known he
was in the same city, let alone that he hadn't tried to contact her.
All she
could remember was the way he regarded living as an adventure. You're with a
companion at one point and at the next turn there was someone else with you.
Farid;
just his name used to bring a smile to her face. Her closest friend, the one
person who knew her every emotion before even she felt it. the one who could
make her see a different side of every situation. The one she could go to for
anything.
She turned
back slightly and saw him in conversations with one of the board members of the
corporation and smiled to herself.
He had
always vowed to her that he'd never be caught dead talking to a 'boring
business man whose sole purpose in life was to make others lives a living
hell.'
Yet now here he was, dressed up in a formal blazer, chatting away about
the stock market.
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
Preet touched her shoulder softly and she felt herself being pulled away from
her old memories. "Haan?"
"You
seemed lost," he whispered lightly to her. "Aren't thinking of ditching me are
you?"
She
grinned. "Shut up."
Preet
shrugged. "It could happen."
Rinki
shook her head until her eyes fell on Farid again. Who was watching her
intently again, his eyes following her every move.
Could
happen. There were so many things that could've happened in her life.
There were
so many times when she had waited for Farid to ask her the most important
question of their lives.
But he
never did.
She could
still remember the emotions in those eyes of his. Hopeful, nervous, anxious,
and just plain scared.
Rinki
smiled at him when she caught his eye again and saw the happiness glowing on
his face. She hadn't forgiven him. She couldn't. He had left her when she
needed her friend but right now four years later, they were both different
people.
Sure, that
day when she found out he had left for places unknown, she had been furious.
Calling up each of his friends and demanding to know where he was.
But no one
knew anything and she had no idea what made him leave so suddenly without a
single good bye.
That night
she had spent crying, something she didn't like admitting to anyone. What else
could she do? She had tried every means to find him but the reality dawned on
her a few days later; he was gone and she had no idea when and if they would
meet again.
Kaise Kati Raatein, Kaise Kate Voh Din
Kaise Jeeye Tanha, Kaise Raahe Tere Bin
She was
right deep down in her heart. They would meet again—she just didn't realize
it'd be the day of her engagement.
Farid's eyes fell on her tiny frame again and again but he just couldn't seem
to pry them away. She seemed like the old Rubina, but there was a slight change
in the way she carried herself. As if there was a small shield built around
her—keeping strangers at a distance.
The Rubina
he knew was different—she'd embrace strangers and make them her friends. This
girl was different. He had left her in a state where she couldn't trust again.
He glanced
up slowly and sighed deeply understanding the true meaning of being lost in a
crowd. He was standing here with a houseful of people yet his eyes searched for
only one.
Chaaron
Taraf Faili Dard Ki Tanhaai
Shaam Saher Humko Yaad Teri Aayi
Preet smiled as he saw Rinki looking down at the ground in silence. "Are you
sure nothing's wrong?"
She
glanced up at him and shook her head. "No Preet, why do you think so?'
"You
don't...." he sighed. "You don't seem very happy,"
Rinki bit
her lip. She didn't want Preet to feel apprehensive today of all days. She
loved Preet and he knew it too—but Rinki also knew that Preet had suffered
heartbreak in the past, something he used as a joke to cover up the pain he
felt.
The
heartbreak that had caused insecurity in himself.
O
Saahiba, O Saahiba
"Preet," she smiled before cupping his face in her hands. "I'm very very VERY
happy,"
"Sure?"
She
grinned. "If you ask again I might say no,"
He sighed.
"I love you,"
She
nodded. "I know,"
"Can the
much in love couple please come to the main floor?" One of Preet's friends
called, distracting them.
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
Preet took
her hand in his again and they both walked towards the main stage in silence.
Their relation never needed words. Their hands and eyes spoke more than
required and that left them both content.
Preet
Juneja was a person that many people associated different things with.
People who
were his acquaintances knew him to be happy and fun loving. People who were his
friends knew that this happy exterior was a way of covering up some of the pain
he had gone through. But Rinki, Rinki knew the real truth of what he had gone
through. The heartbreak he had suffered. Still she had accepted him and that
had made the love between them grow.
Apni
Nigaahon Mein Tumko Basa Lenge
Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein Tumko Chupa Lenge
"Have you even asked her officially Preet?" One of Rinki's friends
teased Preet who rolled his eyes.
"Do you
really think if he didn't ask I'd be here right now?" Rinki grinned. "I'm not a
mind reader; I do need to know what he's thinking."
Everyone
laughed except one person in the entire room. One person who felt the hidden
meaning underneath her words.
He hadn't
said his true feelings to her and that was what had changed the entire course
of his life.
If only
there was some way to take her back to what it used to be before everything
changed. If only there was some way he could tell her now what he needed to say
then. If only.
Humpe Jo Guzri Hai Tumko Bataayenge
Cheerke Dil Apna Tumko Dikhaayenge
Rinki's
eyes unconsciously searched for Farid's and she smiled the minute they landed
on his forlorn face.
A wrinkle
came onto her forehead immediately and she yearned to get up and rush over to
his side. Something she wasn't able to do anymore.
She
glanced around at all the people watching Preet expectantly as he slowly pulled
the ring out of the small red box.
He tugged
her left hand closer to his own and Rinki's eyes locked up to meet Farid's but
was surprised as she saw him backing away slowly against the wall.
Her heart
fought with her mind as she pondered over what to do.
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
Should she
pull her hand away and rush over to Farid?
Should she
let Preet place the ring, a symbol of their love on her finger and forget about
Farid?
Each
option had a point that hurt her.
O Saahiba, O Saahiba
The coolness of the metal touched her skin then and she looked down to see
Preet sliding the ring onto her finger. HE smiled at her and she smiled back
genuinely happy that she was with him.
She
glanced back up at Farid but suddenly everything changed.
She saw a
hurt in his eyes.
Something
she had missed from before.
Hurt
caused by something big.
Hurt that
she caused.
She
reached a conclusion as she glanced down at the thing band she held in her
right hand.
A
conclusion she wished that she hadn't come to.
Farid
loved her.
Milenge
Tumse To Bataayenge
Ke Kitna Pyaar Hai Hume
She was engaged to Preet now.
Farid felt
the wall come behind him and he sighed as he collapsed onto it. He had made it
through the night without his feelings coming out and ruining her life.
Without
another look at her he turned and fled the house. He couldn't bear to see her
slide the ring onto Preet. He didn't want to see her making a choice.
O
Saahiba, O Saahiba
She was happy with Preet and that was what meant the most to him. He
had left her in a state that he cursed himself for. But now she was happy, now
she would have the happiness that he wished he could give her.
Farid and
Rubina were in the past and from now on he would try his hardest not to come in
front of her. Now It would always be Preet and Rinki.
He was out
of the picture.
I don't want to say anything about this one😳 Hope you guys enjoy it tho
Meera😳
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