THE TEN TIMES KARAN WAS AFFECTED BY PREETA-Part 1
The first time he was affected by Preeta's closeness with someone was when he saw Preeta wiping the juice of Rishab's coat. It made him feel uneasy, and there was this strange burning in his chest. He didn't like it. Karan ignored overthinking what the feeling meant, and just reasoned that it was because he didn't want Preeta to get in-between Rishab and Sheryln's relationship. He knew the pychogiri of this mental girl. He didn't want his older yet more naive brother to fall into her trap. Yes, that's it! That's the only reason he swept Malishka aside, and shadowed behind Preeta, to get her alone. For her to answer his questions. Karan cornered her. Preeta looked at him questioningly, yet slightly irritated. Something that wasn't uncommon in their interactions. He began, however, he had difficulty saying his accusation out aloud. He paused, he stuttered and only when she aggravated him enough, did he shout out that he had seen her with Rishab.
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The second time he was affected by Preeta's closeness with someone was when he saw a strange man, talking to Preeta outside her house. He had just left the place, and was coming back in to irritate Preeta with his constant knocking whilst he waited for Rishab to get the car. A nice time pass to see her insane reactions. But she was already in a deep conversation with the strange guy. He contemplated waiting for the guy to leave, so he could ask her what she was so serious about that she didn't see the "Great Karan Luthra on her doorstep. Was it concern? No. He just didn't like being ignored. His mind changed when he saw the man grab Preeta's arms and pull her closer. Karan felt the same uneasy feeling and burning in his chest. Walking back outside, in a strange rush, Karan didn't know what to do. He didn't like the feeling. He didn't like the man. Getting into Rishab's car, Karan remained lost in thought. Mujhko kya hogya. Why do I care if that pyscho has found herself a new bakra. Chalo jaan bachci. Ab mujhe ghoorna band to kardegi.
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The third time he was affected by Preeta's closesness with
someone was that very afternoon, when Preeta's phone did not stop ringing when
she was helping his dadi. He watched her
look over at the caller id, and hang up. The second time it happened, he
replied "Miss Psycho, phone silent mein kardo. Professionalism ke bare suna
hain? She silently glared back at him, but did as she was told. He told
himself that he had taken that step so his dadi got Preeta's full attention. The
sooner his dadi was better, the sooner Preeta would be gone, right? But that
didn't explain his uncontrollable urge to throw Preeta's phone as it lightened
up everytime she received another call. She didn't notice the phone, but he
did. Paka wahi ladke hi hoga. Walking to the table, he scanned the caller id
quickly. Deepak. That guy's name was
Deepak. What a boring name? Bilkul Miss Pyscho ka type. The phone lit up
again, and Karan had had it. Picking up the phone in rage, he ignored the hello
preeta' greeting from the otherside, and got straight to his point.
"Listen, Preeta iss waqt kham me hain. Tumko koi kham nahi hain to nah sahi,
lekin Preeta ko tho karn do. She can't talk to you now, or I'll personally see
to it that she gets a cut from her pay, Karan warned before hanging up the
phone.
Preeta yelled "Karan, how can you talk like that. Yeh mera phone hain. Tumhe
koi haq nahi bante meri phone oothane ko.
"Well, mein baar baar phone bhaj rehne
se irritate ho chuka hoon. Aur hum tumhe kham karne ke paise dhete hain, not so
you can talk to whoever on the phone, Preeta! Karan replied in an equally loud
tone, if not louder.
"I didn't even pick up the phone! Woh toh silent mein tha! Tumhe kaise irritate
karne lage! Preeta retorted.
"Silent mein tha. Mein andhaan toh nahi hoon. Phone ki light
bhaj rahi thi everytime the phone rang! Aur apne yaar se itna bhi door nahi reh
sakti, toh ispe main kya karoon?
"Don't you dare, Karan! Har baar tumhare dimaag pata nahi kis disha mein jaata
hain!
Amongst the two fighting individuals, Karan's grandmother watched silently at
the fight unfold. Despite always taking her favourite grandson's side, this
time she knew Preeta was right. She just didn't understand Karan's anger. She
hadn't seen this side of Karan before. Karan looked at his grandmother and then
at Preeta for one last time, before marching out of the room.~
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The fourth time he was effected by Preeta's closeness with someone, was when he found out Preeta was engaged to Deepak. This time, there was no anger. There was no confrontation. He was on the staircase when he heard the news, when his mother congratulated Preeta for the "khush kabri. He looked over at Rishab, also frozen but not shocked. Not shocked like he was. Karan felt like he had lost his footing...and not just physically. He saw Kareena and Sheryln ecstatic at the news. He watched his own sister hug Preeta in glee. He watched over at everyone's reactions. He thought over his own. Karan, tumhe toh khush hona chahiye. Yeh sab ki tarein. Tum hamesha hi toh yeh chahta thei. Ki who chali jaye. Apni khud ki 25-75 joke ko serious na leyo, Karan. He reasoned to himself, he tried to atleast. He watched the cheerful chitter in the house, and how it felt wrong to him. How he for once didn't feel he belonged. His eyes finally settle at Preeta's. For once he wanted her to stare back at him. He wanted to look in her eyes. He wanted to lose himself in her. He wanted to read her. Because to him, her smile didn't reach upto her eyes. To him, she looked lost in the cheerful chitter, too. He just didn't know if he finally was reading Preeta right for the first time, or he was projecting his secret hope onto her innocent expressions.
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