Chapter 2: Kuch to hua hai!(Something has happened)
As Abhimanyu entered the mansion, he found Gayatri's brother Suyash with their other cousins , near the stairs ,giving him deadly stares.Abhimanyu rolled his eyes with his "oh no, don't start this all over again expressions". Before anyone of them could speak , Gayatri's father Ravi appears behind Suyash and puts his hand on his shoulder in order to pacify the existing situation.
Ravi(to Suyash):It's ok. Gayatri ka message aaya tha.Use hi Abhimanyu se kuch baat karni thi.(To Abhimanyu):It's ok Abhimanyu. Tum ja sakte ho.
Abhimanyu nods his head in appreciation and ignoring all the deadly stares , makes his way upstairs to Gayatri's room.Suyash, not appreciating his father's move, turns towards his father to express his disagreement.
Suyash(to Ravi):Ye apne theek nahi kiya Papa. Aaj Gayatri ki shaadi hai aur aap...
Ravi(interrupting to calm him down):Mujhe pata hai main kya kar raha hoon.Gayatri ke naye jeewan ki shuruat hai aaj, aur usse pehle uske pichli sabhi kadvi yaadon se chutkara paana jaroori hai . Aur mujhe Abhimanyu par poora vishwaas hai, agar use tamasha hi karna hota to ghar ke sabhi sadasyon aur kuch rishtedaaron ko chodkar baaki sab logon ko alag nahi bhej deta woh.
Suyash once again opened his mouth to oppose his father, buts shuts it down quickly as he has nothing concrete to speak.
On the other side, Abhimanyu had reached outside Gayatri's room and was about to enter when the door opened and Sujata came out of the room. They both shared an awkward silence between them, when Abhimanyu decided to break the ice.
Abhimanyu(in a hesitant tone):Namaste Aunty, woh main bas.....
Sujata(interrupting before he could complete his sentence):Kuch kehne ki jaroorat nahi hai Abhimanyu. Gayatri andar hi hai, jao baat kar lo.
Saying this, she went downstairs allowing him to have his last conversation with Gayatri in private.Abhimanyu appreciating her gesture in his mind, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed the door and entered the room to put an end to that one relation, which he once considered the most important one of his life . As he entered the room, he found Gayatri sitting in front of the mirror, with her back towards him.
Abhimanyu(trying to control various emotions,of grief ,pain, appreciation & anger in his mind):Gayatri.
On hearing his voice, Gayatri turned towards him and Abhimanyu lost all the words he thought to speak after meeting her as he was totally awestruck after watching her as a bride. She was looking much more beautiful than what he had imagined of her as a bride whenever he thought of their marriage day. Gayatri too, unable to utter a word due to the same emotions as of Abhimanyu playing in her mind, kept on looking at him with her eyes filled with tears.Time came to a standstill and the silence between them deepens, as they both were unable to take their eyes off each other and unable to utter a word. The moment was broken with a shrill voice coming from downstairs informing them about the departure of the wedding procession for arrival at the wedding venue. As they both came out of their trance, Abhimanyu once again decided to break the ice.
Abhimanyu(in a hoarse voice , unable to control his emotions):You r looking beautiful, much more than I have ever imagined.
Gayatri(trying hard to control her feelings ):Abhimanyu...
Abhimanyu(interrupting her inbetween):Main bol raha hoon na.....
..
Meanwhile same date, same time, in a flight from Mumbai to Jaipur: The airhostess had requested all the passengers to untie the seatbelts as the flight had just taken off from the mumbai airport. At the same time, a small girl suddenly starts crying. Her mother , along with the air hostess tried all means to pacify her , but all of them went invain. A young girl , in her early twenties, who was sitting just next to them was observing them. Watching the matter getting worse, she interrupted them .
Girl (to the mother): Hello ma'am. Agar aap bura na maane to main ek koshish karu?
Then mother silently gave her approval. The girl smiled and try to initiate a conversation with the terrified girl.
Girl1: Hi!
The other one didn't respond.
Girl 1: Aapka naam kya hai?
Still she got no response from the other girl, but now her crying had been turned into sobbing.
Girl1 (sensing that she is about to succed extends her hand for a handshake): Mera naam Akshara Goenka hai. Aap mujhe apna naam nahi bataoge?
Girl 2 stopped sobbing and looked at her before taking her extended hand for a handshake.
Girl 2(responding to her question ): Mera naam Swati hai.
Akshara: Nice name Swati..aur aap bahut cute ho...lekin aap ro kyun rahe ho?
Swati: Mujhe flight mein baithne mein darr lagta hai.
As Swati revealed her reasons for crying, Akshara looked at her mother for
explanation.
Mother: Actually ye pehli baar plane mein travel kar rahi hai. Actually ghar mein ek emergency ho gyi hai, isliye Mera jaldi se jaldi ghar pahunchna bahut jaroori hai. Isliye mujhe flight leni padi.
Akshara understood her situation and assured her through her eyes.
Akshara(To Swati): Pata hai Swati, mujhe bhi plane mein baithne se bahut Darr lagta hai.
On hearing this, Swati totally forgot her crying and looked at Akshara in disbelief.
Swati: Lekin didi, aap to bilkul nahi darr rahi.
At this point, Akshara understood that she had succeded in striking a conversation with Swati and had to engage her to make her forget her fear.
Akshara(in an exciting and pampering voice): Arre woh to isliye, kyunki mere paas ek formula hai darr ko door bhagane ka...jo mujhe mere bade papa ne diya tha. Aapko chahiye woh for formula?
Swati(in an exiting voice): Haan didi, please batao na.
Akshara(in a low whispering tone): Ok, but ye ek secret hai, kisi ko batana nahi. Mummy ko bhi nahi.Ok!
Swati responded in a yes.
Akshara: Pata hai, jab main aapke jitni thi na to apne bade papa ke saath travel kar rahi thi , aap hi ki tarah , plane mein first time. Aur main bahut dari hui thi.
Swati(curiously): Phir?
Akshara:Phir...phir mere bade papa ne mujhe apne paas baithaya aur ek mujhe ek baat batai.
Swati(unable to contain her curiosity): Kya baat didi?
Akshara(remembering her bade Papa's advice): Unhone mujhe kaha ki jab bhi kisi cheez se aapko Darr Lage to aap un cheezon ko karne ki koshish karo jinse aapko khushi milti hai . (To swati): Accha, Maine aapki hobbies to puchi hi nahi?
Swati(totally engaged in the conversation): I like painting , reading , making new friends, watching movies.Waise didi, aapki hobbies kya hai?
Akshara(a little bit surprised by her sudden question): Meri? Well, aapki tarah mujhe bhi naye naye dost banane ka bahut shauk hai, i like watching movies aur mujhe music sunna bhi bahut pasand hai.
Swati(shooting her next question): And who is your favorite singer?
Akshara smiled hearing her question as she knew that she had succeded in taking the fear out of Swati's mind. Also, she was not expecting Swati to ask such a selective question out of the blue that will take her into an alternate world of her dreams.
Akshara(totally lost in her own world ): Well i like Aaroh's voice.
Swati chuckled after hearing her answer
Akshara(surprised at her response): Kya hua!
Swati: Mujhe pata tha aapko Aaroh hi pasand hoga.
Akshara(continuing to be surprised):Aisa kyun?
Swati: Meri colony mein bahut si didi log hai. Sabko Aaroh hi pasand hai. Some of them even act like crazy while listening his songs.
Akshara felt a ping of jealousy in her heart after hearing Swati's words. She already knew that he has something in his voice that will make any girl weak on his knees, but still she was unable to except that she is just one of those girls who are crazy for him just for his voice. In her heart, she already has stamped her authority on him and no one , particularly no one has the right to take him away from her.
Swati noticed the expressions of possessiveness on her face.
Swati(in a teasing tone): I know you like Aaroh!
Hearing her tone, Akshara's cheeks started turning pink due to shyness.May be this girl is not as innocent as she had thought and it was not a good idea to start a conversation with her, she thought in her mind.
Akshara(trying not to blush): Aisa kuch nahi hai.
Before Swati could again caught her off guard, Swati's mother reprimanded her for becoming too frank and invading Akshara's privacy.
Mother: Swati bas karo! Kahin bhi kuch bhi bol deti ho.
Akshara thanked Swati's mother in her mind for providing a moment of relief before Swati could dig deeper into her heart by her next set of questions.
Akshara(trying to calm her inner demeanour ): It's ok ma'am. Bacchi hai.
Saying this she casted a piercing look at Swati , who threw a mischievous grin at her.Akshara nodded her head in disbelief.
Mother(extending her hand): By the way, I am Niharika Goyal.
Akshara(shaking her hand with a smile): Akshara ! Akshara Goenka.
Niharika:Thank you so much Akshara for the help . Aap nahi jaanti aapne meri kitni badi help ki hai.
Akshara: No issues ma'am.(Pulling Swati's cheeks lovingly) She is so cute.
Before Swati could speak again, Niharika took out her tablet from the hand bag and handed it over to her to get her engaged in her favorite movies. Swati put her headphones on and Akshara got a sigh of relief.
Niharika: Waise sorry to interrupt, lekin aap mumbai se kisi kaam se jaipur Jaa rahin hai.
Akshara: Nahi, mera ghar udaipur mein hi hai. Studies ke liye mumbai me hoon, my elder cousin is getting engaged, to uske liye ghar ja rahin hoon.
Niharika(congratulating her): Bahut bahut badhai ho. Bahut accha lagta hai jab choti choti khushiyon ke liye sab log ikattha hote hain.
Akshara accepted her good wishes and looked at Swati who had totally forgot her pain and was deeply engrossed in her favorite movie . As she found Niharika preparing herself to take a short nap, she took out her headphones and decided to get herself immersed in the voice that had the capability to take her into her own imaginary dreamland irrespective of the surroundings and people around her.Soon, a soothing voice coming out of the headphones engulfed her entire existence in a matter of seconds.
Haaan….. Aaaaa……
Haaannn…..
Haaa… Aaaaa…
Haaan….. Aaaaa……
Haaannn…..
Haaa… Aaaaa…
Bepanah Si Mohabbat Ki Hai,
Dil Ne Bhi Yahi Chahat Ki Hai,
Tere Bina Mera
Laage Na Jiya,
Tere Liye Hi
Dhadke Jiya…
Tere Bina Mera
Laage Na Jiya,
Tere Liye Hi
Dhadke Jiya…
Mere Dil Ko Tere Dil Ki
Zaroorat Hai,
Mere Dil Ko Tere Dil Ki
Zaroorat Hai,
Mere Dil Ko Tere Dil Ki
Zaroorat Hai,
Mere Dil Ko Tere Dil Ki
Zaroorat Hai…
Totally engrossed in the voice and her own world, she slowly opened her eyes and felt relieved to find both Niharika and Swati busy with their respective activities. Had they been not occupied, they would have easily guessed by her expressions right now that she had not told them the entire truth for her visit to Udaipur this time . Ofcourse she was coming to Udaipur to attend her elder Cousin Vansh's engagement, but there was another reason she was equally or must say, more excited for.
"I am coming close to you", mumbled Akshara under her breath and a slow smile took place on her pretty lips. After all, she had moved mountains to find out some whereabouts about her favorite singer as he managed to keep a low profile about his personal profile even after becoming such a rage among the youth. Not any of the leading or local publications or news channels had any info his contact or residential details, or even had managed to get a picture of him at any event.
"You may be too resourceful to manage such a hidden identity, but Akshara Goenka is no less, and you will know it soon. See you soon at Udaipur, Mr. Aaroh." She mumbled again, smiling at her success of finding his residential address at Udaipur and resumed back to the next song before closing her eyes once again.
.....................
Delhi, Malhotra Mansion:
Abhimanyu , storming out of Gayatri's room, came downstairs and was about to make his way out of the mansion when Suyash , along with his cousins, blocked his path,
Suyash(in a warning tone): I swear Abhimanyu, agar aaj tumne Gayatri se kuch ulta seedha kaha to....
Abhimanyu(interrupting him inbetween):Tumhari behen se jo kuch kehna sunna tha, bahut pehle hi keh chuka hoon . Aaj sirf usko wish karne aaya tha. Dusro ki khushi ke din unko aanson dena Abhimanyu Birla ki fitrat nahi hai. Is cheez ka exclusive right sirf tumhari behen ke paas hai (correcting himself)...sorry tha.
Saying this, he was about to move out when again he stopped in between , shifting his gaze to Suyash once again.
Abhimanyu(in a sarcastic tone): Or do one thing. Gayatri upar hai, uske room mein jao, usse poocho maine usse kya baat ki, tab tak main neeche hi gaadi mein tumhara wait karta hoon.(Noticing no change in Suyash's posture) Nahi, then stop wasting my time for god's sake and do something productive in your life for once.
Saying this and and giving an indifferent look to Ravi and Sujata who were having an apologetic look on their faces , he came out of the Malhotra Mansion . While opening the door of his car, he gave one last look to Malhotra mansion .
"Sab khatam, finally ". Thinking this , he entered into his car and closed his eyes that were filled with pain, resting his head on the driving seat. The conversation in Gayatri's room started swirling in his mind.
Gayatri(in a broken voice):"Kya kehna chahte ho Abhimanyu".
Abhimanyu(inhaling a deep breath, controlling his inner turmoil): Kehne ko to bahut kuch hai mere paas, lekin aaj nahi...ab nahi. (Taking steps towards her) Aaj tumhari shaadi hai...khushi ka din hai tumhare liye. (Looking deeply into her eyes) Bas yahi ummed karta hoon ki jisse tumhari shaadi ho rahi hai, woh tumhe mujhse jyada pyaar kare...tumhe khush rakhe ..aur tum uske saath woh na karo jo tumne mere saath Kiya.
Gayatri could clealy see all the suffering and pain she had caused him in his eyes.He looked totally shattered, shaken and ready to be broken into pieces. In short, he was not the same Abhimanyu she once loved more that her life.
Gayatri(in a trembling voice): Abhimanyu, main tumhara dil nahi todna chahti thi, lekin...
Abhimanyu(totally irked by her statement): Thanku....thanku ki tumne mere baare mein itna socha...thank u for small mercies.....thank u ki ab main... (contollling his outburst ) Anyways...aapne jo itne ehsaan kiye mujh par....uske liye thank u so much....I wish the best for you and for your married life. Good bye aur agar ho sake to aage kabhi mat milna.
Saying this, he puts the bouquet he has brought with himself on the table, and without giving another look at her , stormed out of her room.
At the same time, the loud ring of his phone took him out of his thoughts. Wiping the tears coming out of his eyes, he looked at the phone screen flashinf the name Mr. Birla on it.
Abhimanyu(taking the call): Hello Mr. Birla! To maa ne aapko bata hi diya.
Harshwardhan Birla(H.B)(shouting on top of his lungs): How dare u? Tumhe pata hai na tumhe is waqt kaha hona chahiye aur tum Delhi chale gye...without informing anyone?(To manjari): Ye ladka kabhi mujhe seriously lega ya nahi?
Abhimanyu(unable to continue with the conversation): Faaltu mein apna B.P. mat badaiye.. Aa raha hoon.Kuch hi time mein ghar par hounga.
Saying this , he cuts the call and presses the accelerator to leave all the painful memories behind ignoring the noise of the arrival of the wedding procession resonating the whole atmosphere.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kumkum Bhagya
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