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Shruti threw chalk at two boys sitting on the last bench. They startled and whole class turned their attention to them as Shruti scolded them,
" Would you like to discuss the topic with us? The class must be getting boring so you can make us laugh."
Some students laughed while some just ignored them and those two boys got embarrassed.
" Sorry mam," they apologised.
" You better not speak a word unless you are asked a question."
Shruti said and continued the lecture till the bell rang and her class came to an end. She secured her hair with a clutcher then grabbed her books and bag and walked out of the lecture hall.
" Shruti mam?"
Shruti stopped on her track as someone called her from behind. She smiled, recognising the voice. Professor Tarun came running and both started walking side by side with each other.
" Are you free at 5 PM?"
Shruti frowned and nodded, " yeah..why?"
Professor Tarun's eyes sparkled and he said, " I have two tickets. Movie will start at 6. Will you go with me?"
Shruti thought for a second then agreed.
" What movie is it?"
" The new one. It's your favourite actor's movie."
" Hrithik Roshan?"
She beamed and he chuckled before nodding. She glanced at her watch and said to him,
" Let's meet at 5 then?"
" Cool," Tarun said and both went to their own destinations. Shruti attended her remaining classes and reached the parking lot at exactly 5:10. Tarun was already near his car and waiting for her.
He opened the passenger side door for her and she settled inside. He took the driving seat and both drove away from there.
She unlocked her mobile and messaged Jaydev.
" What are you doing?"
Tarun asked.
" Nothing. Just letting my husband know."
" Oh," Tarun replied in a tiny voice.
Shruti took a deep breath and put her mobile back in the purse.
On the other hand, Jaydev entered the cabin of the Commissioner.
" Jay Hind, sir."
Jaydev saluted him. Commissioner reciprocated and gestured to him to take a seat. Jaydev smiled and sat opposite to him on the chair.
" So, what do you want to talk about, Jay?"
Commissioner Ravi treats Jaydev as his son because he knows him very closely and understands him.
" Sir, you remember you asked me to accompany you to the marriage of your brother's daughter in Goa?"
Ravi hummed, " but you refused. I told you I don't want to be alone there. I have no son. My daughter can't come so I wanted you to be with me."
Jaydev smiled, " seems like I can come now."
" Really?"
Ravi exclaimed.
Jaydev's smile grew wider at his excitement and he nodded, " I have no cases to handle next week so I can go with you."
" That's perfect!"
Ravi smiled widely and took a sip of tea.
" Be ready the day after tomorrow. I will take care of your expenses."
Jaydev chuckled and shook his head, " it's alright sir."
He stood up and saluted him before turning to leaving but stopped near door when Ravi called him,
" Jay?"
He faced him, " yes sir?"
Ravi put the empty cup on the table.
" Bring your wife too."
Jaydev frowned, " but..sir, she can't take leave from university."
Ravi waved his hand carelessly at him, " try once. If authorities refuse, tell me. I'll talk to them."
" But sir-"
Ravi cut him off in the middle, " no more words, Jay. Goa is a nice place. You can spend some time with your wife because here, you don't get time from work."
Jaydev sighed heavily and said unwillingly, " okay sir."
He left the cabin and eventually reached near his car. He unlocked the car and settled in the driving seat. He hit the steering wheel and cursed, " shit!"
He rested his head on the steering wheel and muttered, " Now I will have to bear this headache also."
He heard sounds of raindrops as water pattered on his car and roads. He exhaled heavily and sat straight.
" The rain too had come to spoil my mood. I hate rain," he gritted his teeth.
His mobile phone vibrated with a notification. He unlocked his mobile and furrowed seeing Shruti's message.
Going to watch a movie with a friend. If you can't come. Leave the message. I'll come by cab.
She had dropped the address as well. He rolled his eyes and put his mobile back in his jacket pocket.
" Khud aao. Naukar nahi hu tumhara."
( Come on your own. I am not your servant.)
Saying that, he drove away from there. Completing his remaining work, he went to the place Shruti is currently at.
The rain stopped for a while while he was in his cabin at the police station. As soon as he left in his car, the rain started again.
He does not have a good relationship with rain. All his sorrows and pains emerge and some old memories prick his heart.
Eisha loved rain. She once shared that when she took birth it was raining heavily. What an irony! The day she died, it was raining. Jaydev lost his parents and it was raining that way as well. Now it feels like rainy weather laughs at his situation.
His eyes blinked as he stared blankly outside the window and focused on his driving.
I LOVE YOU JAY!
He smiled, recalling the incident when she confessed her love aloud while standing under the rain. She pulled him to her and made him drench as well. Life would have been better if Eisha was with him today.
Trust me, when I say you are mine then I mean it. I will gouge out their eyes if any girl tries to snatch you from me.
Jaydev laughed and Aryan commented, " your girl is dangerous, man."
Eisha rolled her eyes and folded her hands around the chest, " finally my sautan is afraid of me."
Both the boys laughed at the girl and she smiled slightly.
Jaydev came back to reality when a loud horn was heard. He began driving once again as he had stopped his car at a traffic signal.
" I miss you," he whispered. His eyes glistened with sorrow which he had buried deep inside his chest.
In the next 30 minutes he reached his destination and pulled his car to the secluded area. He waited for 5 minutes and saw Shruti outside the theatre hall.
His eyes frowned seeing a man with her. He must be her friend. He has seen him somewhere... Yeah, he is a professor in her University.
" This girl takes a lot of time," he said and tapped his finger on the wheel impatiently.
Shruti hugged her friend and turned her attention to his car. She gestured to him to come near her.
" God!"
He muttered and ignited the engine before going near her as she could not come due to heavy rain.
As the distance reduced, his vision also became clear and his eyes fell on Shruti, properly. He knew she looked beautiful today in the saree but he is noticing her properly right now.
His heart skipped a beat and the grip loosened on the steering wheel. She is wearing a simple yellow saree but still looking enchanting. His eyebrows knitted together when he suddenly imagined Eisha in the place of Shruti.
He blinked and Eisha was no more in front of his eyes. Only Shruti. She bid her friend bye then shifted her attention to him. She tucked the strand of her hair behind the ear.
His eyes followed her as she came running to the passenger seat and quickly got inside. She got a little wet due to the rain.
" Darwaza nahi khol sakte the?"
( Couldn't you open the door?)
She scolded him and wiped water from her purse with her saree pallu.
" Let's go," she said and he moved his eyes away from her face. It took him 30 seconds to collect his feelings and begin driving.
The ride was silent with Shruti who was busy sending pictures to Tarun she clicked with him. He glanced at her mobile from the corner of his eyes and found her uploading her pictures in instagram story.
20 minutes had passed doing this and then suddenly Shruti started stopping Jaydev.
" Stop stop stop!"
He pulled the brakes and looked at her confusedly, " are you mad?"
She smiled widely and unfastened her seatbelt while saying, " rain and roasted corn go well together, no?"
" What-"
Before he could speak further, she got out of the car and made her way to the small stall of roasted corn.
" Damn this woman!"
He sighed heavily and unfastened his seatbelt then leaned his back on the seat. He stared at her through the window. She makes friends very easily like she did just now. She should come after getting her thing but no, she got busy talking to the old lady who is selling roasted corn.
" She is irritating," he said and blew horn three times to grab her attention.
She covered her ear with one hand and glared at him while eating corn.
" The audacity-"
He was about to get out of the car as well but refrained himself and stayed inside the car.
He thought to test his patience level by waiting for her. Not many minutes passed when his eyes caught the sight of a group of young boys in their early 20's eyeing Shruti and laughing while whispering something to one another.
His eyebrows knitted together. They are standing not far from her but the girl is too busy laughing with the old lady.
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Pakhi entered a restaurant with her two female friends. They took their seats and ordered their lunch.
" When are you introducing your husband to us?"
One of them asked. Her name is Shriya.
" Well...," Pakhi failed to string her thoughts together. She would not like him to meet them, at least not now.
" Acha leave it. Show us his photos at least."
Another friend, Shalini said.
Pakhi was left tongue tied because she did not have a single photo of him.
" Uhm, I don't have one as you know how we married," she said. Embarrassment defined her voice.
Shriya and Shalini shared a look before smiling reassuringly.
" It's alright. Is he good with you?"
Shalini asked and Pakhi smiled slightly, " he is."
" But see the guts of that man. He married a SP's sister right under his nose. Impressive!"
Shriya praised him and Pakhi rolled her eyes.
" Guys, this does not look impressive in reality. Come out of your delusional world."
" Com'on, Pakhi. You are so lucky to have such a husband," Shalini sighed sadly and continued, " don't know when a man will do all this for me."
Pakhi laughed at them and shook her head in disbelief, " you two are so dramatic. Believe me, you'll have to change your perception regarding such a man after meeting my husband."
Shriya waved her hand carelessly, " as if we don't know. We searched about him. He is just a little angry and arrogant. Consider the case an absolute win if it's being handled by Aryan Chauhan. He is one of the best young lawyers in the country."
Pakhi raised her eyebrows, " a little? No girl. Anger resides on the tip of his nose. Although he seems very calm, we don't know when he will burst into anger."
" Well, you can't deny the fact that he is super handsome," Shalini said with dreamy eyes.
Pakhi did not say a word as she recalled the morning incident when she called him monkey.
" No?"
Pakhi looked at Shriya as they waited for her response.
" Uhm, yeah.."
She accepted because he is genuinely handsome. She just teases him but cannot deny the actual fact. He has got mesmerizing visuals. Their lunch soon arrived and they had their food before departing to their next destination.
Carnival.
Pakhi needed no permission. She just told Ekta and she, without any further questions, let her go and even handed Aryan's black card which he forgot at home.
She did not plan to spend his money but her friends forcefully took her to the shopping mall and seeing so many dresses and other things there, she couldn't hold her desires.
" Oh my God! Look at this, Pakhi."
Pakhi turned her gaze to Shalini and gasped, finding her shamelessly holding the lingerie in front of herself and showing her.
" What the hell, Shalini?"
Pakhi snatched it from her and put it in its place. Her cheeks turned crimson red.
" What? You should buy this. Your husband will be on knees," Shalini said and grinned with Shriya.
Pakhi scoffed, " shut up!"
She walked away to see some other things. Shalini and Shriya smirked at one another and bought the most alluring lingerie and night dress here.
Throughout the shopping, they successfully hide the things from her. Pakhi paid the bill and both of her friends took a breath of relief when she did not learn a thing.
They finally went to the carnival where a famous singer was coming this evening.
" I wish I could marry Varun Kapoor. He is so handsome," Shalini squealed with happiness.
Shriya and Pakhi laughed at her and made their way inside the carnival. As they entered the concert area, the name VK! VK! echoed in their ears. It was difficult for them to hear one another in this crowded place.
They made their way to their seats in the second row which they booked for them.
On the other hand, Aryan accepted an incoming call.
" Where are you bro? You know I can't start my show without you."
Aryan chuckled, " Shut up and I have arrived at the venue."
" Cool. I am sending my manager to you."
" Okay," Aryan disconnected the call and cleared the messages. He put his phone in his pocket and 5 minutes later, found Varun's assistant, Miss. Rubina coming to him.
" Hello, Mr. Chauhan."
Aryan greeted her and followed her as she took the lead. Varun Kapoor, his friend from university days. In the university, after Jaidev, if there was anyone who understood him, it was only Varun.
He smiled, seeing him taking over the stage. He sat in the front row. Varun noticed him and winked at him.
Aryan rolled his eyes while Varun's fans squealed with happiness thinking they winked at someone near Aryan.
Pakhi, Shriya and Shalini, too looked in the direction where Varun winked.
Pakhi's eyebrows knitted together as she recognised the back of the particular person. Her eyes widened and she chanted only one matra in her mind-
Please don't be him. Please don't be him. Please don't be him.
Her breath stuck and eyes enlarged than before when Aryan turned his head to her side for a fraction of a second before looking back at Varun who began his show.
" Oh God!"
Pakhi mumbled and dropped her head down. She tried hiding her face with her hair and cursed herself for wearing a long skirt and top today. If only she had worn a saree or suit, she could have hidden her face right now.
" Have you gone mad? Why are you turning yourself into a ghost?"
Shriya questioned while Shalini was too busy fangirling over Varun
" He is here," she said.
" Huh?"
Shriya leaned closer to her and flinched when Pakhi screamed near her ear.
" My husband is here!"
" Where where where?"
Shriya smiled widely and started looking for him. Pakhi slapped her shoulder then held her wrist and said into her ear,
" We have to leave right now."
" But the show?"
" Leave it," Pakhi said and held Shalini's hand as well. The girl was startled and was never confused in her life like she got right now.
" What happened?"
Shalini screamed to her friends while Pakhi started going out of the venue with her.
As they came out, Shalini freed herself and yelled at them in irritation.
" What the hell? Varun is singing and you pulled me out like garbage!"
" Her husband is here-"
" SO WHAT- HUH?"
Pakhi nodded. Her eyes depicted worry as she said, " we have to leave. He can't see me."
" But why? Let's meet him," Shalini said and Pakhi shook her head immediately.
" No. We cannot. Let's leave."
She grabbed both of her friends and forcefully started pulling them towards the exit. However, three of them could only walk 10 steps. They stopped on their track when a loud voice, a familiar voice to Pakhi, rang in their ear.
" Biwi!"
Pakhi's heart sank and she wished for Mr. India's watch right at that moment. Shalini and Shriya did not wait for a second and turned around to see him.
" Kill me already," Pakhi muttered and slowly turned around to face him. Her friends were shocked seeing the instant change in her behaviour.
Pakhi found a knowing smirk on his face as he tucked his hands inside his pants pockets.
" Chori kari hai tumne?"
( Have you stolen anything?)
She frowned, " why would I?"
He walked toward her while replying, " to aise bhaag kyu Rahi ho?"
( Why were you running away?)
Pakhi licked her lower lip and avoided his gaze.
" From you-"
Shriya sealed her mouth after uttering two words when Aryan turned his gaze at her. There was not that softness in his eyes which was there when he looked at Pakhi.
" Mm, bye!" Shalini said.
Pakhi widened her eyes when both of her friends ran back to the show. She cursed them mentally. They were so excited to meet him but now when they had the opportunity, they disappeared.
She flinched slightly when she felt him pinching her chin and turned her head back to his direction. She fisted her skirt and dared not to look down because he will think of her as a scared girl and it will be easier for him to trouble her.
" Were you running away from me? Itna bhi bura nahi hun main."
( I am not that bad.)
He moved his hand down from her chin and she tucked the strand of her hair behind the ear nervously.
" W..what are you doing here? I didn't know you like to attend such shows."
She tried changing the topic.
" The singer is my friend. He invited me."
" Oh," Pakhi uttered.
Silence for a few seconds fell between them which Pakhi broke by asking,
" Aapko kaise pata laga mere baare mein?"
( How did you find me?)
The Corner of his eyes curled as his smile turned a little wider. His gaze got sparkly in no second. She has still not found the explanation behind such expressions of his. Does he love her so much? Is this what love is like?
He ended the distance between them and held her hand. He intertwined their fingers when she did not struggle to free herself. His other hand found a way to her cheek.
She leaned her face against his palm as he cupped her cheeks. People were too busy and in their own world to notice them.
" Ek jhalak kaafi thi mere liye. Aisa ho hi nahi sakta ki main apni Pakhi ko ek nazar mai pehchan na saku."
( One glance was enough for me. It is not possible that I could not recognize my Pakhi at one glance.)
Her heart.....
skipped a beat.
Her hold on their intertwined hands tightened. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked deep into his eyes and found nothing but truth, honesty and immense love.
As he gave another proof of his love, both of them felt the first drop of rain falling on their heads.
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