Chapter
24
He had said it, said those three words to Manvi and
she knew that it wasn't her hallucination.
"I love you..." it still rung in her ears, Manvi looked
at Virat, he was rigid, eyes still closed and standing close to her, but not
with the same intensity.
This was the moment where all the guilt he had
forgotten came flooding back, he had said those words to Manvi, those words
which he had for Roshni only, those words which he wanted to have for Roshni
only.
Virat moved back, his head bent and heart heavy with
guilt, guilt of snatching something which belonged to Roshni from her and
walked away not even sparing a look to the person who was standing there in
front of him.
Manvi stood there looking at him walk away, she was
too tangled in her own dilemma to understand him, she felt stranded... left out
and rejected... his words meant nothing to her, he was not happy and she felt
angry but nothing else when she walked away to call it a night too.
_____________________________________
They returned to Delhi the next morning, it was time
to get back to their routine but just until the coming weekend. The wedding
functions were on tow behind the engagement and the ladies were already in to
the arrangements. The dates for all the functions were decided and shopping was
done, Manvi was left alone to complete her college work as she was expected to
be home a day before her engagement.
It was Thursday already and neither Manvi or Virat
spoke to each other after that incident, Manvi was adamant on her decision and
she refused to take the first step to talk to him.
"Manvi... so you won't be coming to college tomorrow?"
Pooja asked,
"No... mama's order, she has said that I should be
home the whole day,"
"Okay... I understand what aunty is trying to say..."
"I always think that you should been my mama's
daughter you know... I don't know what you see in her demands,"
"Chup karo, and tell me..." Pooja was cut short as
Rohan greeted both of them,
"Hey girls," he smiled cheekily,
"Who are you?" Manvi asked, "And why are you sitting
here with us... we don't know you and we don't like talking to strangers," Manvi
retorted angry with him for being too busy to spend time with them,
"You leave it Pooja you know who I am right?" He asked
Pooja, trapping her, she looked at the two who were now frowning at her,
"Umm... I'm getting late for the class... I'll see you
two later," she ran away before they could trap her again,
"I cant believe she refused to support me," Manvi
was shocked,
"Haan but she didn't support me too," Rohan took
Pooja's side,
"But she has never done that... she won't even think
before taking my side, even when I am wrong, she didn't want to choose me over
you, what did you do to her?" Manvi blamed Rohan,
"What can I possibly do to her Manvi, stop being
stupid and come with me to the canteen I am hungry..." Rohan dragged Manvi to the
canteen but she couldn't still accept that Pooja refused to support her,
They were having their breakfast silently, Manvi
lost in her own thoughts and Rohan gazing at her occasionally,
"You know, when I joined this college," Rohan
started,
"Haan you were a total flirt,"
"No I wasn't..." He protested,
"Yes you were, you used to have that flirty smile,
the girls were all lattoo on you but then they were wise to not to fall on your
trap,"
"Huh, do you even know how many proposals I got so
far, I was wise enough to not to fall in their trap," he boasted smugly, making
Manvi raise her brow at him.
"You have any evidence?"
"I would have had plenty, but I don't enjoy having
those clichd messages in my darling phone,"
"Yeah right, good excuse," Manvi mocked him but was
speechless when a girl almost fell stumbling when Rohan passed a smile to her,
"See, this is the effect I have on girls,"
"She has a problem in her eye," Manvi didn't want to
give up,
"Haha agree Manvi, you know I am speaking the
truth,"
"Okay then, why don't you have a girlfriend?"
"Unfortunately the girl I was interested in didn't
see what others saw," he shook his head sadly,
"Awe... really?" she sympathized,
"Yeah... and do you know who that is?" he was now
serious,
"Who?" Manvi asked feeling curious,
"You..."
"I told you this earlier too, don't joke Rohan,"
"No Manvi, I am serious..."
"Rohan..." Manvi was starting to feel uncomfortable,
"I have always liked you... you were that kind of a
girl who I always was intrigued by... you were so interesting and what not,"
Manvi was speechless yet again, she agrees that she had felt it but it was gone
totally after they befriended each other, and this was a total shock,
"Then we became friends and it just was keep
growing," he was looking at her admiringly when he started talking again, "You
are a good girl Manvi, unlike many others here, you had a clean heart, you are
passionate about the people you love, you like to make others smile, you were
talkative, fun to be around however amidst of all this I fell in love," he
wasn't looking at her now but was having a dreamy look on his face, making
Manvi heart stop from beating for a moment,
"Love?"
"Haan, love..." he paused and sighed, "love with
someone who rarely stays in the same
place where I am present, who rarely spares a look to me, who rarely speaks two
words with me," he was now looking sad but Manvi was confused,
Rohan sighed deeply and turned to look at her again,
"How unexpected right? I mean I never thought that I will fall for someone who...
who is so opposite to me,"
"Who are you talking about Rohan?" Manvi was feeling
frustrated, but she was sure that he wasn't talking about her,
"You know Manvi, when I saw you and when I had that
little thing for you... I wanted to think that it is love, because I knew that it
was not a crush, but now the feeling I get, there is no way I could
misunderstand, because I know... I have that feeling... you get what I am trying to
say right?" he asked but Manvi was just looking at him, "I know that this is
it... I love her, I love Pooja... Manvi I am in love with Pooja..." He finally told
her, making Manvi feel giddy.
"I would go crazy if I don't see her for even one
day, but she makes it so impossible for me by walking away every time I try to
go closer to her, I get frustrated when I don't hear her speak but she doesn't
even care to answer when I call her, even now... I wanted to speak to her... but
did you see how she walked away... Why does love hurt so much?"
Oh how she wished she could answer him, but she was
still flabbergasted, why didn't she ever think of it? Now that Rohan was saying
she could perfectly understand what he was trying to say, there were plenty of
times where Pooja had just walked away when Rohan entered the scene but she
never noticed.
"Why didn't you tell me Rohan?"
"You two are so close to each other, and I didn't
want to make you feel used, but I could contain no longer... I have no one else
other than you to share this so I just wanted to forget that you are her friend
and think of you as my friend only... and it worked see I finally managed to tell
you," Manvi's heart went out to him, he was such a cutie pie but hey she wasn't
going to say that to him, why offend a the male ego.
"Of course Rohan... Mein tumhari dost bhi hun, you can
tell me anything," She smiled,
"You know what I love you Manvi, you are the best,"
He gave her a side hug leaping forward from his seat,
"I love you too bud," she laughed looking at him
change his mood in an instant, he was so optimistic.
"Okay I'll see you tomorrow then... I have to leave
now," he stood up and Mnavi remembered that she still had to tell him about her
engagement,
"Rohan, I need to tell you something," she was
feeling odd,
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Actually sit na... it will take about five minutes,"
"Okay... why are you hesitating so much, tell me,"
"I... woh kya hei na... I'm getting engaged this Saturday..."
She spoke hastily and looked at his expression which were many in that few seconds,
"You are going to what?" He screamed resulting many
students around them turn and give weird looks,
"Hush... chilao mat..." she smiled at them and tried to
cover up,
"And you are telling me this now... tell me what... I
will go crazy otherwise, you are doing this because you like it, or because of
your parents... what...? Rohan was panicking,
"Calm down bud, you are behaving as like a girl..."
she tried to hide her laugh,
"Can you really blame me for that? Won't a guy panic
when his nanhi si pari comes and tells that she is going to get engaged... in two
days?" He exaggerated but she could say that he was somewhat relaxed seeing her
happy,
"Awe... Rohan..." she moved to hug him but he brushed
her away with a weird face,
"Don't make that sound... that is so disturbing..."
"But you are so awe' Rohan" Manvi teased him,
"Okay quit changing the subject... Tell me what is
really happening?"
"You want to know from the scratch...?" Manvi didn't
want to... because she doesn't like lying to her bud,
"Just tell me... if you are happy about this whole
thing or not... be honest," he was serious,
"Of course I am... I have been waiting for this for
years now..." she was honestly happy, who didn't have problems in relationships, That
doesn't make the whole thing useless, she was happy.
Rohan looked at her carefully, not ready to believe
her just like that, but sighed deeply again and then smiled at her,
"Fine I trust you..."
Manvi smiled at him too, "Okay now... I want you to be
there early, with me..." she ordered and he laughed,
"Okay madam, I will be there... I have to see the
banda you are getting engaged too... Akhir friend hun mein tumhari."
"Haan, Rohan about Pooja..."
"No Manvi, not now... there is a lot more I have to
tell you but not now..."
"But you can tell me anything, I wont be here
tomorrow and..."
"Manvi... Manvi..." he stopped her blabber, "There is no
hurry... and you don't have to worry... just enjoy your time... and abhi toh I am in
college, I have a family who expects me to listen to what they are saying...
there are many things going around and I need time, love is not my first priority,
I did everything.. I had fun but now this is the time for me to be a responsible
son... My dad needs me." He was sounding very serious and that was a total
surprise for her, this was the first time she was seeing him so serious and
concerned about something, the carefree guy she saw few days back was now grown
up to be a matured and sensible adult she was proud of him.
Manvi nodded and he left hugging her sideways again,
she could say that he was trying hard and Manvi was happy to see his spirit.
...
It was dark and silent, her room was full of new
clothes and jewelries and she wondered why her mother had kept so many for just
one occasion. She walked around the room, she was missing talking to him, all
throughout this week she had been tolerant, she had tried to keep herself
occupied with many things, it did keep her occupied but there was this void
always present with her. She actually didn't know why she was keeping herself
away from him, her heart said that it was useless, and she should go speak to
him, another part of her said that what she was expecting wouldn't happen, he
wasn't going to miss her or understand what she meant to him in his life, he
was too busy thinking about his love for... she didn't even know her name and
here she was ready to give her whole life for him.
Her mama and papa were at the Vadhera house and she
was asked to stay home with Kantha b who was busy cooking dinner, Manvi dumped
all her dresses in the wardrobe, the more she kept glancing at it the more it
reminded her of him. She had survived without seeing him for four days now, she
would survive this long night too, she would only see him when she will be
taken to him to have the ring on her finger.
Manvi gasped when she felt someone holding her by
her waist, she turned and looked at Virat who pushed the door close, rather
noisily.
The room was silent again, Manvi decided to not to
give in as he gazed at her.
Virat looked at Manvi as she tried her best to avoid
looking at him, he had realized that he had gone too far with it this time and
Manvi wasn't going to give in, he found it tough to even start a conversation
without her support, that made him realize how much she had been doing to make
this work and how he had been taking all her effort for granted.
"Manvi..." she stayed adamant, still looking at
something behind him, but he deicded to stay calm as it was his fault
completely this time, it took time for him to realize but well he at least
realized.
"Okay I know I was wrong, and I am sorry..." he wanted
it to sound sincere but it was too mechanical,
"I can't do this okay..." he was loosing it,
"Manvi look at me..." that was a plead, he couldn't
bare to not to get her attention,
She didn't and he left her free, she didn't move but
didn't look at him either. Virat ran his hand through his messy hair, this wasn't
something which came easy to him and he was going nowhere with it.
"Okay fine, what do I have to do... tell me, ask me
anything, I just want you to know that whatever I did wasn't intentional," he
completed giving up trying to pacify her but realized he didn't make it any
better by saying it when she looked at him angrily,
"I can't Manvi try to understand... I can't," he was
starting to get agitated, this was all too much for him now, he wanted her in
his arms now, he wanted her to provide him the comfort he needed.
"Aap please yahan se jaao..." she didn't want to look
at him because his disheveled exterior was doing nothing but melting her heart,
Virat tightened hi jaw, not wanting to scream at her...
Manvi sighed looking at him unmoved,
"Please Virat ji... Mama aur papa ajayenge... And it
wont look good,"
"So you won't agree...?" Virat moved closer to her as
she moved back, taking every step carefully but it was just a second after she
stumbled upon a Gift box placed next to the bed, Virat held her arm and
balanced her form but didn't let her stand straight by leaning forward.
Manvi shook her head, but knew that he wouldn't
leave unless she agreed to speak to him normally. He left her hand and she fell
on the soft mattress only to be trapped underneath him.
Manvi was astounded, "What are you doing?" she screamed
but silenced when she heard her mom and dad speak, they were back, and her
heart thudded with anxiety.
"I am sorry," he didn't want to leave without making
her agree,
"Virat ji, you cant to this to me,"
"Well I am." He was serious, there was no trace of
humor in his expression and Manvi noticed how haggard he looked,
"Will you stop shutting me out?" she gave up
protesting, it was tough to resist him for so long,
He didn't agree instantly but kept gazing at her for
few minutes, "I will try..."
"Will you keep considering me like a friend even
after we get engaged?"
"I will,"
"Toh phir maaf kiya..." she smiled and was soon
engulfed in his warm and cozy embrace.
____________________
The next will be up on Sunday only... Love you all...
Take care!
Edited by aysha1989 - 10 years ago
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