chapter 23

"Manasi" Swapna tapped her on her shoulder."Di and Jiju" Manasi squealed.Swapna and Neeraj came to Mall to take her to University to meet Viraj."Eshu, Sudhan" Neeraj took Eshu into his arms and gave a small peck on Sudhan's cheek."Jiju, " Manasi asked Swapna in disbelief, dragging her aside, away from Neeraj and kids"He is ready to meet Viraj, I told him everything," Swapna said with excitement and happiness."Really?" Manasi freaked like a kid."Yes" Swapna gave a pleasant smile."When did you tell him?" Manasi asked her tugging her hand, giggling."This morning," Swapna gave her the answer looking at her husband who is busy talking to her Father in law."Shall we go?"Neeraj interrupted Sisters pretty talk, looking at his wristwatch.He is not sure, what will his FIL say, if he comes to know about it, he is still hesitant to meet Viraj.But doing it for Manasi and Swapna.It's not that his FIL won't talk to him or blame him, but he may feel it he got ignored.His FIL talks to him normally and they have good terms but, he couldn't digest the way they get married even today.It is making Neeraj hesitant to talk about Manasi, What if he gets irritated? or misunderstands their intentions? Neeraj knows how terrible it will be.But for now, He doesn't want to think much, He convinced himself, He is meeting Viraj for once, rest will be taken care, later, that's it."I will ask our driver to drop dad at home" Neeraj informed Swapna."Dad, We will come in a couple of hours," Swapna said to her FIL with a smiling face."Sure" He smiled back and left them greeting Manasi."Let's go to University then, Did you inform him?"Swapna asked looking at Manasi, who is talking to someone on Phone."Yes di, I called him and told him we are coming," She said blushing and pursing her lips.Neeraj carried Eshu to the car and Sudhan came tugging his mother's hand.Manasi felt excited about the meeting, How will Viraj be going to answer Neeraj's questions? Manasi got tensed."Who is he Manasi? What does he do?"Neeraj asked soon they occupied their seats in the car?Manasi's heart best fastened, She answered him, lowering her headShe answered his question briefly.Manasi is somewhere or somehow worried about Bhumi.She doesn't want to see her there, she grabs all the Viraj's attention.A pang of jealousy hit her hard, She shouldn't be there, She felt she should've asked Viraj about her and prayed to god to keep Bhumi away from her Viraj, her family."I am sorry raj, I am sorry." Bhumi is literally begging Viraj for the past one hour."No way, I won't forgive you, ever and ever."He turned to another side avoiding her."Stupid, hear my words once" Bhumi became angry.Still Viraj didn't listen to her words.He kept his earphones in and started working on a laptop."Bhumi, it's our last day to submit the project, let me work.." He caught Bhumi's hand in time, She is about to drag the laptop from his lap."Viraj" She sat aside keeping a sulky face, slumping her shoulders.Viraj looked at her sulky face and felt sad."Bhumi...Bhumi....." He called her name sweetly.She didn't talk but sat there calmly, staring at the tree."Chashmish," Viraj teased her, he felt bad to her gloomy face."We will talk about this once we finish our project" He negotiated for a peace treaty."Shameless Fellow," She muttered."Peace treaty?" She slapped him on his shoulder, pushing him."Me?Peace treaty? No way" Viraj faked a laugh."Ms.Bhumi, Who hid things from her best friend? Who reneged her promises? Is that me?"This time he said a bit serious."But I have my reasons, I am here to explain to you, you need to hear my words at any cost, you can decide later." She said with the same seriousness."You signed a contract and even went for rehearsals but you didn't tell me a single word. What will you explain now?" He felt very bad about her behavior."I have proper reasons, give me a chance." She defended."Then what do I have, accusation, Shut up." He closed his eyes and evidently angry with her behavior."You didn't trust me after two decades of our friendship. Great""I am angry with you Bhumi, I don't want to talk about it. Not now." He said with a grumpy face.He was never angry with her until today. Even when she told him how she mistook her friendship as love.Viraj knows how she had a foolish crush on him and how did she realize it on the very next second, they are best friends and they have no secrets with them.But this time she hid things, kept these many secrets, it's not acceptable."Fine," Bhumi closed her eyes and sat there closing her face with her palms."I am going to class," Viraj stood up and walked not paying heed to any of her words, deeds.Bhumi sat there, with a sulky face, she doesn't want to go to class and get embarrassed again. It takes some time for Viraj to calm down, so better to leave him there alone.She knows well Manasi doesn't like her, They even met a couple of times earlier in that two times she never called her with her name.She talks in monosyllables and in mere gestures.She completely mistook their friendship and her gestures.Last time she purposefully booked a corner seat for her and a couple seats for the two, Viraj and Manasi had an argument on it for two days.She is rude to her all time.Still, Bhumi doesn't have any anger on her, She saw how possessive Manasi is about Viraj. She liked it but the way of expressing her possessiveness is unbearable.She doesn't hesitate to hurt the person if they try to grab Viraj's attention.Bhumi is hurt by the way Manasi treats her.Yet She didn't say it Viraj.She fears it may create a rift between them and doesn't want it at any cost, She knows how much Viraj loves her.Bhumi didn't attend any lessons, sat there in the library and prepared some notes thinking about Manasi and Viraj.She can't see Viraj now if she sees him, she will cry and doesn't want it at all.Finally, after sending some time at the library, she came back to the canteen and sat there sipping a cup of coffee."Bhumi, Bhumi""Where did you disappear?" Viraj came shouting, Panting."Come let's go to Restaurant, Kiran wants to give a treat to for us." He smiled."Before that Manasi wants to meet us," He said in sheer excitement.She didn't answer, and she has decided not to interrupt their privacy."Angry with me?But why? I have to be angry with you Chashmish, remember, you have this habit of hiding things, it's you not me." He has dragged her out of the chair.She didn't budge, She has her own reason, she wants to go away from there."Bhumi, Come on, don't make me angry again." He warned.She didn't heed his words, she shook her hand walked hastily from there."You didn't listen to my words, I am going" He heard her mutters."Oh my god, Devil, you are impossible." He is walking behind her at the same pace."Leave me, We will talk about it later, I am not feeling well, I need some rest" She stopped, said to him looking straight into his eyes."You're not okay, you need rest, Ha!" He stood there rubbing his forehead."What happened to you Bhumi?""Are you in a coma?""Not able to breathe?eat?""Look at you? How fine you are?""When did you start lying to your best friend?" He shouted."I am sorry but I need to go, Manasi will be waiting for you, we can talk about it later." She finished her monologue and took a step ahead."You are impossible Bhumi" He shook his head.He too took two steps ahead."What....?" She stopped and turned around for a second.He noticed that they came there, bickering, they are in the center of the road.When did they come out of the Canteen? When did they reach there?"Shit" He caught her hand and dragged her a bit back.What just happened.She stumbled for a second and he caught her in time.A biker was about to hit her.It's her fault too."Are you okay?""Bloody. ....."Viraj asked her cupping her face." I am fine" She said trying to grin.A moment of silence.She is breathing heavily.Viraj hugged her for a minute, patted her shoulder.They saw a car halting in front of them, and Manasi got out if it.Bhumi just stiffened at her sight and tried to shook her hand, released herself from Viraj's hug.They both stood there looking at Manasi and her family members.To be continued...Please do vote and commentPlease let me know it isThank youTake care