And they met again
Tejo looked at the rain drops falling on the window pane. It was pouring outside. She looked at her watch . It was half past seven. She must hurry.Her hostel gates closed at sharp nine. She searched for Harpreet. She knew that girl was busy but she must say bye before leaving. It was the first elite party Tejo was attending right since she had moved to Chandigarh for her PHD.
Life had come long way in past three years. She still remembered her PHD interview. The one she gave online right from her buffallow stable. Thankfully Sundari and Basanti were quiet and her interview went smoothly. Though her destiny had not been mercifull on her in personal front but professionally she got everything she dreamed of. She was proud to be a resident PHD scholar and assistant professor. Soon she would be Dr. Tejo Sandhu and bring pride to her dad and her small village Moga.She took a long breath and gulped another glass of fruit punch.
Harpreet rushed to Tejo. Her long evening dress sweeping the floor. She had forgotten that she promised Tejo a ride back to hostel. She kept calling the driver she had hired but got no reply. The party has been quit straining and had ended up leaving bad taste on Tejo her best friend . She still remembered the last retro party Tejo had attended on her request.That party had left a life long scar in her heart and once again she became the cause of another heart break for her. People that Tejo had been avoiding had suddenly appeared all in same form. Harpreet had tried her best not to invite them but somehow they both dropped in. Jasmine had her deep routes among Chandigarh elites so her dropping in did not surprise her but Fateh ! How could he drop by. He avoided parties and media specifically one with reporters. While this party was full of them. He being recent heartthrob among youngersters was so prone to scandals thanks to his ex girlfriend Jasmin. That girl followed him like shadow. Everybody knew it. In fact media people loved her even more for that. She always gave them gossips. More then Fateh it was she who was in local newspapers for her antics. Just badge of being ex girlfriend of a popular sports idol was enough for her to keep gossip galore buzzing. A small beauty saloon she had started a year ago already had franchisee now ! She knew business! Specially how to run it on gossips and show offs. Harpreet rolled her eyes as she heard her screeching voice on mike. Jasmin was advertising some new brand on stage. Harpreet instantly knew it would be of bad quality. Last time she was gifted a shampoo which this Moga queen had advertised. She got hair fall !
'Are you alright dear', Harpreet inquired grabbing tight Tejo's hand.Tejo did need that tight hold. She was lost. Harpreet followed Tejo's eyes which were fixated on the stage. They were having Bollywood dance bash on stage. She tried to concentrate through the flash lights to see what was it that disturbed Tejo again. And their she saw.
'Oh no ! Not again !' , she exclaimed. 'How on earth did Jasmine manage to take Fateh on stage ! Have they started seeing each other again! '. She stopped her query as soon as she saw Tejo's face going dim.Harpreet realised she must somehow take Tejo away from the party. For Trjo it was like reliving the retro party heart break once again.
Tears welled in Tejo's eyes as Harpreet tried to drag her away Tejo from the party floor. Tejo jerked her hands and wiped the tears.
'I am not so weak Harpreet', it's just old memory. I will be fine' . Tejo felt as though she spoke through the tunnel. She could geel her own voice echoeing .May be she had too much of fruit punch she thought.
'Anyways call the driver. I am feeling heady. Did that fruit punch had alcohol ? ', she inquired.
'Well if you did request alcohol free then yes else bartenders here always serve with alcohol', Harpreet explained.
'Waah! ', Tejo blurted swinging her head. ' What a great night! I saw a nightmare on stage and now I am drunk too'.
Harpreet was shocked seeing Tejo going berserk. She called the driver again. ' Damn it! This Airtel network. Never works when needed'.
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Things were getting uncomfortable for Fateh. He has been avoiding social gatherings since his last scandal. He had be reprimanded enough by his dad for that. The whole party was giving him a bad vibes. He was here all thanks to one his investors who wanted him go more social and get some of extra media attention. Jasmine's presence made his intuition even stronger. He just hoped she did not set him up but soon realised she did so. There he saw her flashing that wide toothy smile at Mr Taneja his middle aged investor who always went weak in knees whenever some chick smile at him. Jasmine meticulously invited Mr. Taneja to join her in dance on stage and as expected Mr Teneja dragged him in. Obviously it was him she targeted and he knew it moment he saw those known faces of reporters around. Now what ! He would be clicked on all angles just to get few intimate pictures with Jasmin. Dance venue was best to get such poses. He had no choice . All he could do was to avoid .But Jasmine had her ways. Though he was used to handling her but today she seemed determined for something big.
'I think you got enough clicks for your gossip mill tomorrow ', he whispered through his clenched teeth. Snatching away his arms from her waist .
'Yes Mr. Teneja has been quit useful', beamed Jasmin with pride thrusting her head on his chest.
Fateh pushed away her head. ' I already said . Enough ! '. But was surprised Jasmin still smiling at him. At instant he recognised that crazy smile . What was she up to ? He rolled his eyes. She was pointing towards something.He eyes followed. Tejo !
Did you plan this, he grabbed Jasmine trying his best not to gnaw his nails inside her well cared skin.
'Not exactly' she chuckled 'she just happened to be at wrong place at wrong time Fateh ! Look at her wiping her cheeks. Am sure your muse is crying. Poor thing saw us going cozy on stage . Once again! My work is done . My reporters got their gossip and my sissy some extra tears. What a perfect night? Isn't it ?' Jasmine pushed Fateh aside to make her way while he stood their speechless.
He looked at Tejo. A petite slender structure wrapped in white evening gown. She sat their her eyes staring in nothingness. He walked unknowingly towards her but then hesitated half way. Her words echoed in his mind. 'Do me a favour Fateh. Never cross my way and ever show your pathetic face.' Those words were spoken out of sheer hatred but with wet eyes. She was conflicted and Fateh had known it was best for him to follow her words. To him that was only way she would heal. But today he could not stop himself. She looked different and had strange aura around her.She looked like an ice queen in that off shoulder dress, her black curls sparsely covering her beautiful neck line. Fateh was used to seeing her in long curtain like dresses. But today.! Even if she was following the dress code. She didn't need to look so... Sexy.
Fateh gasped and his hands sweated. He clenched his fists and abruptly walked opposite her. He must leave.He did not have courage to face the disgust in her eyes. For him she was his muse. He walked, eat and slept with her thoughts, it calmed him down . But he dared not cross her ways. His Tejo was no more warm cheery wife he knew. She was cold and distant ice queen only to be watched from afar.
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Harpreet felt helpless. While on one hand her boyfriend was going restless without her on other hand she had her best friend losing control. She saw Fateh rushing out and felt he was her only solution. She called him for help. Though Harpreet had supported Tejo when she broke up with Fateh still she knew that they both were in love. But that live was not enough to save their marriage. Specially when Tejo had lost trust in him and he had cheated on her.His now ex girlfriend Jasmine had always hounded her. Her antics took toll on her career as well as health
Fateh was stunned to look at Tejo swinging from one side to other. He had never seen her stoned . She was not the Tejo he knew.
' When did she start drinking ? That too in such parties ! ', Fateh could not stop asking.
' No she didn't . I mean she did drink those fruit punch but forgot to ask for alcohol free. You know Fateh they don't smell much of Alcohol !
'Yes but you don't get drunk like this by mere fruit punch ! It seems like drug ! '
Now it was time for Harpreet to get stunned.She knew drugs were common in such parties but why would anyone drug Tejo !
'Well ! ' , she tried hard to come up with an explanation but had none.
Harpreet had no idea.Her boyfriend finally lost his cool and decided to get his girl.Fateh could see the tension and decided to stop .
'It's okey let's talk tomorrow. I will drop her at hostel. '
Seeing Tejo's condition . Harpreet signed ' No'. She thrusted her flat keys in his hands. ' Take her to my place.Hostel warden will create an issue if you take her their like this.
'Yes yes I know am drunk quipped Tejo taking away the keys from Fateh ' but I can still walk my way. Your flat isn't that far.
Harpreet and Fateh looked at each other and then at swinging and stumbling Tejo.
' Yes sure' both said in one voice.
Fateh nodded at Harpreet to continue with her boyfriend and followed Tejo. He walked behind her while Tejo did her best to walk straight. Blabbering something incoherent but surely something regarding him. Fateh kept smiling at this new Tejo he saw.His ice cold queen stumbling in her high heels. Her elegant white gown sweeping the road dirt while she clutched it on sides to walk steady, her slander legs flashing out now and then.
Tejo somehow managed to reach Harpreet's flat. She was exhausted, her stomach made noises. The liquid inside just somehow wanted to burst out. She ran towards the washroom. Fateh closed the door and flopped on sofa. He wondered what more he had to see. He closed his eyes and Tejo flashed in his mind. What was he thinking ? He jerked his head and reached for the water. That girl in the washroom hated him and here he just could not stop thinking of her. Tejo always had that intoxicating effect on him and he was afraid today he won't be in control if Tejo looked at him with those yearning eyes. Any of her hateful proclaimations won't be able to stop him.
Tejo stared at the mirror. Why have I still not moved on ? She asked herself. It has been three years still very thought and sight of Fateh brought a pang in her heart. She knew he had followed her back and was in hall. She had tried to ignore but him walking behind her gave her a sense of belonging. He was the reason of her melancholy still he was her respite too. How can one person do both ? She often wondered what was Fateh for her. Why hating him was difficult and loving him so painful ? Life would be so easy if only she could forget him forever.
She felt dizzy again. Her body suddenly going slump .She leaned on the wall struggling hard to walk but crashed into the shower.
'Fateh ' she gasped. Trying desperately to breath .
Coming up next....
It was a weak moment
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Anupamaa
