Short stories / One shots

Welcome to my world of short stories and one-shots / single scenes.

Short stories are stories with an idea or concept, essentially described briefly without a lot of detailing, unlike full blown fiction, extending to hundreds of pages. It may be one part long or few parts.

One shot : 
I had no idea what a one-shot ( OS ) is until I joined India Forums. It is a single scene that is written with certain characters in mind highlighting a particular state of mind or an event. So if I take Raj and Simran from DDLJ / Meredith or Derek Shepherd from Grey's Anatomy / or, Swami from Malgudi Days as my characters and write a scene for them, it becomes a one shot. It need not have a story of it's own but an OS essentially is complete scene in every sense. 
Writing in any format is interesting and these two formats too are not only exciting but challenging.

This section has 2 short stories by me and 2 OS written for Odhani forum. Hope you like it.

Happy Reading :)))

Love you all

Mamta

Something Special

  “O, teach me how I should forget to think ……” – Romeo.

Gaurav threw a glance at the manuscript in his hand and took a deep helpless breath.

The Siri Fort Auditorium, set in the heart of New Delhi, was filled to capacity. The packed theatre waited breathlessly for the upcoming performances. The outgoing 2012 batch of The Dance and Drama Academy was staging the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ tonight.  

The institute boasted of producing talent in theatre and art for more than fifty years. Students strived to get entry into the various courses at the insti and when they graduated, they merged in mainstream art with smooth transition. The final play of the outgoing batch was always a highlight of the year as it was attended by almost all the famous and known names in the field. This gave a chance to newcomers to showcase their talent. 

The play was about to start.

For a moment, Gaurav felt like disappearing somewhere. The urgent need to play the main lead of the show and to be under the focus of the spotlight was unexpectedly replaced by an escapist’s desperate desire to run away and avoid everyone who was waiting eagerly to witness his performance, for no one knew that Gaurav Khandelwal, the hero, playing ‘the Romeo’ in the musical play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ had stage-fright of highest category.

Shruti, the ‘Juliet’, had been observing Gaurav since evening. The obvious change in his behaviour couldn’t go unnoticed. But she tried not to talk about it. She simply couldn”t.

It was an irony that the lead actors, ‘Romeo’ and ‘Juliet’ playing the lead roles in the classic play by Shakespeare, did not even talk to each other in reality. In fact, everybody was convinced that they hated each other. There was no camaraderie, no friendship and not even a cordial relationship between the two from day 1 of the rehearsals. The aloofness was mutual and evident. Initially, their team had tried a few times to bridge the gap between them but all attempts had been futile with no response from either of them.

Gaurav had been extremely confident about playing the part when he was selected. He had devoted endless hours of practice in his role, had memorized long poetic lines by-heart, acted in front of mirror and had rehearsed untiringly. All was going well, until he came to the auditorium today and witnessed the crowd.

The moment he threw a glance at the occupied seats and saw his parents, family, relatives and friends sitting among the audience, he found himself feeling jittery once again. His confidence shattered and his determination came crumbling down to pieces before him.

The more he observed the crowd from backstage, the more he was reminded of his numb finger tips and sweating palms. His lips quivered as he bit onto them mercilessly.

The leading lady, Shruti, remained a silent witness to his restlessness. After getting completely ready, she entered the stage to have a ‘final feel’ before the curtains slid open and the show began but realized that ‘Romeo’ wasn’t even completely ready. She felt irritated for a moment and couldn”t stop herself this time. Unexpectedly, she walked towards an unassuming Gaurav.

He had been leaning on a wall and observed the crowd through the space between the seams of the curtains. Apart from that, he was busy tapping his feet anxiously and mutilating his lip between his teeth. The moment he heard footsteps behind him, he turned and was astonished to see her approaching towards him.

This had never happened before. They had never talked about anything, at all…….apart from rehearsing their lines robotically. Whenever they rehearsed on stage, they would become absolutely comfortable and acted like professionals, as true lovers, but off-stage, they would immediately turn strangers.

“Gaurav, are you nervous ?” Shruti whispered with a concern as she came closer to him.

The cold vibes between them were almost palpable. There was no room for any conviviality in present circumstances too.

“None of your concern.” He snapped back at her.

Either it was due to his persistent denial of the situation or because of the fact that Shruti was talking about it…… he wasn’t clear why he replied in a rude tone. Usually, he wasn’t that arrogant or offensive to others. For a moment he wondered why he behaved repugnantly with Shruti, but still, he didn”t care to apologise. He shrugged and moved away.

Leaving her taken aback, he walked off the stage towards the green room.

The first bell rang….

The curtains slid open with the Prologue recitation and the play commenced before the packed audience. The characters playing the Montague and Capulet clan began their part. The actors mesmerized the spectators, right from the initial few dialogues.

In the green room…..

Gaurav clasped and unclasped his fingers, waiting for his turn and closed his eyes trying to calm down his racing heart beats but to his astonishment, the feeling kept increasing. It was going to be difficult to face the crowd, act before them and speak sufficiently loud so that the dialogues sounded clear and audible. He feared fumbling and shaking on the stage. Once again, he buried his face in his palms as he sat frozen in his chair.

A soft knock at the door startled him.

“5 minutes more to go, Gaurav !” Shruti informed him in slow, deliberate words.

He was infuriated. This time-closing was only going to increase the pressure over him. He already knew that it was 5 more minutes to go and he also wondered what must have made Shruti walk up to him to talk about his weakness.

“She must be relishing the perfect scenario to mock at me and watch me struggle with my fear and nervousness.” He thought.

Angrily, he stood up to shove her away. But she kept standing where she was, undeterred. She was holding a glass of water in her hand which she raised before him.

“I don’t want anything. Please go. I told you that it is none of your concern.” He couldn’t remember if he had ever been this rude to anyone before today. But having to watch Shruti witness him in a   vulnerable state was an extreme torture for him, even more than his fear.

Shocked at his behaviour, Shruti slowly left the room without speaking anything more.

After a while, Gaurav glanced at the mirror and walked out of the room with almost shaking legs. As he took a turn at the corridor, he heard Shruti talking to someone on her phone, making him halt in his tracks. She was huddled up against the wall in a corner and was speaking in soft, shaking tone.

“Ma, I’m so nervous. Yeah, I know I have practiced a lot but I have this strange stage-fear…….I don”t know if I can deal with it……”

Gaurav’s feet froze where they were and he couldn’t move away. Shruti was talking about stage fear ??!!!.

She continued, “Yeah, I know, it’s very common. Shekhar sir, our director, told me that even senior public speakers, so many actors and politicians have suffered from the same. Still, they overcome it and face the crowd to deliver long performances and speeches. Please bless me Ma. Pray that I have the strength to overcome my phobia.”

Her tone was nervous and she appeared edgy. Immediately, Gaurav felt like extending support to her but didn’t move even for an inch. What could he tell her, when he himself was suffering from the same fear. Moreover, they had never been on talking terms. Just a moment back he had shunned her away from his room…..

Slowly her tone changed to a one with confidence, with clear strong words and positive energy.

“But you don’t worry Ma. I won’t let you down. I am just going to ignore the world and the audience beyond the stage….. and perform for myself…..just myself !! I love what I’m doing….. and I’ve been really good at rehearsals……I’ll just close my eyes and remember the hard work that I have invested in past one month…..I’ll just remember that it has been my dream and the time has come to realize it…..I’ll try to give my best…… you know, my team is awesome and the guy who is playing Romeo is too good. He is simply the best. I know that if I falter, I’ll look at him and hold my ground. Just wish me luck.”

Gaurav kept listening blankly…….and was baffled….

Did she really think that he was the best ? Did she really hoped to look up to him and also hoped to gain strength from him ? Him ?

How confidently she told her Ma that she will do her best !!   

Her growing confidence smacked upon his lack of the same and he stood still, without uttering even a word. He desperately needed self conviction and a ray of hope just came from the supposed enemy.

Suddenly, he decided to talk to her. As he turned towards her, Shruti turned too, looked at him and appeared surprised.

“Let’s go. It’s time.” She murmured, trying to avoid any talks and trying to go away from him.

She immediately turned away to walk in the corridor towards the stage. Gaurav walked with her, gathered courage and said, “Shruti…”

“Yeah, Gaurav !!”

“I want to talk to you …..”

“About what ?” She looked at him in surprise.

“I need to apologise.”

“It’s alright, Gaurav.” Shruti continued to walk faster and Gaurav followed her a little behind her

“Err ……. Let me do it……please !! I’m extremely sorry for the way I behaved……”

“Don’t bother……..It happens in stress……”

“The apology is not only for today……I’m sorry for being rude since the day we started rehearsing.”

Undertones of honesty and sincerity were so clearly evident in his apology that he was surprised with himself. This was the first time that Shruti felt any warmth in their conversation.

Shruti smiled amiably and replied, “It wasn’t just your fault Gaurav, I was reserved too……”

“Still……… I was always so cold towards you….didn’t you wonder ‘why’ ?” He asked earnestly.

“I have tried to guess……..” she replied honestly too.

“Enlighten me……..”

“You always wanted Rhea to play Juliet and were really looking forward to be with her when she was selected. The moment Shekhar Sir removed her for lack of sincerity, you suddenly discovered an enemy in the girl who replaced her.”

The clarity with which the answer came, testified for her straight-forwardness and dwarfed his own personality before this middle-class, average girl. He fumbled and tried to hold his ground to defend himself but instead found himself searching for words.

“Err……No…….actually….you might be partly correct but not totally,” was all that he could come up with.

“Oh yes, one more thing. You hated the fact that Rhea was replaced by ‘me’. It wouldn’t have mattered much if it was anyone else. But you have always disliked me as you always thought of me as a snobbish, reserved, middle class, dumb girl.” She exaggerated the words with expressions while she spoke each adjective.

“No, that is not true,” he refuted almost immediately, “Trust me, I have never thought about you like that. In fact, it’s on the contrary. I was uncomfortable with your opinion about me that I was some brainless Casanova, who ran behind pretty girls, including Rhea. You thought I was careless and brute with no class.”

She stopped walking and stood facing him with a questioning look, in disbelief.

“And who told you that I think like that ?”

“Didn’t you ?” he asked with a serious, intense look in his eyes.

She wanted to answer this but suddenly realized that he was supposed to make his entry on the stage.

“It isn’t important what I think. Right now, it is important to focus on what “you” think.”

“Shruti, I………” he couldn’t speak more as he was interrupted by her.

She slowly stepped ahead, looked straight into his eyes and spoke in loud, clear tone, one word at a time, so beautifully articulated that it appeared almost like a part of play to him.

“Focus Gaurav, simply focus on ‘Romeo’ right now !! Just remember that you are too good. No one else could have made a better Romeo than you.”

He kept looking at her, captivated and mesmerized.

“Are you sure ?”

“Absolutely. You’re the best !!” she extended her hand for a warm handshake to wish him the best.

Surprisingly, her words seemed magical and suddenly nothing else appeared to exist anymore for him. He held her hand strongly as a ship holds on to an anchor in a raging storm and wished to keep holding her to gain strength…..

The music piece for Romeo’s entry started playing. She was just behind him and raised her hand to signal a ‘thumbs up’ with a warm smile. He felt like capturing forever, the assurance that radiated from her.

Confidently, he took the stage to storm. It was both challenging and positive but not very difficult to ignore the world beyond the stage and remember his love for what he was doing. He only needed to remember his passion and the hopes his family had on him.

They were supposed to perform together for many scenes today. He had always avoided her before this, on the pretext that she was opinionated about him. Her prejudices about him, or what he thought, they were…….repelled him whenever he thought of talking to her. But today, he was able to perform just because she had been the source of the subtle push that he had needed desperately. Once he was there on stage, all his fright vanished slowly. For the first time in past one month, including all rehearsals, he found himself waiting for his scenes with ‘Juliet’. Among them was the famous ‘balcony scene’ between just the two of them.

In the scene when they faced each other, Gaurav was surprised to find himself gaping unabashedly at Shruti. The calm, the poise and the beauty with which she played her part was elegance personified. Awestruck, he admired her graceful demeanour as she appeared completely in control of her role and the scene. She had never appeared prettier before. Dressed elegantly in Roman costume, with frills and bows enhancing her beauty and her petite figure, she looked like a doll. Her subtle make up highlighted her chiseled features and her deep, amber eyes shielded by thick, long eyelashes captivated everything that caught their interest. Gaurav felt tongue-tied, not out of anxiety this time, but out of the spellbinding and magnetizing effect of his leading lady.

Another thing that he noticed was that she wasn’t nervous at all.

She looked straight into his eyes and muttered softly –

“With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls………”

He was astounded when he realized that she had prompted ‘his’ lines to him. He smiled sheepishly and promised himself to stay attentive from here onwards and confidently played the rest of his part and his lines till they left the stage to prepare for the next scene while other characters took over the stage.

Back stage…..

He followed her as they proceeded for a costume change. It was surprising and unusual but pleasant change for their team to witness their tall and handsome hero ardently following their charming heroine in the corridor. The team had always seen them ignoring and avoiding each other so many heads turned when Gaurave dashed towards the corridor where Shruti entered. If it wasn’t for the final staging today and if the team wasn’t busy, they would have loved to stop and give attention to their leads. But the other characters and the rest of the team was more interested in the ongoing stage play right now. There was some time for the leads to go back again and Gaurav had time.

He couldn’t wait to talk to her.

“Shruti !! Wait !!!”

She stopped walking and turned back to watch him reach near her as he sprinted to get closer to her in the bustling corridor towards the green room.

“Hey…..you were good !!” She complimented him with a genuine smile. It was terribly infectious. He smiled too.

“Thanks……you were pretty awesome yourself.”

“Hmm……thanks…..” She murmured softly.

“Finish what you started, Shruti.”

“Excuse me !!”

“We were talking.”

“Regarding what ?”

“Before we entered the stage, you were telling me what you thought about me.”

She smiled mysteriously and tried to walk away without answering him but he was quick enough to hold her arm and twirl her towards him. She staggered for a moment but controlled her steps to avoid crashing into him.

“Hey !!”

“Please Shruti……”

She straightened herself and replied, “Okay, I’ll tell you. I never thought low about you, Gaurav. In fact, it was you who always hated me for being more regular, more sincere and for receiving all the accolades.”

“That’s not right !! You hated me for being reckless, irresponsible and fun loving…..you thought that I was good for nothing and fooled around aimlessly.”

“Hello.... that’s totally wrong. It was you, who despised me for being confident and hardworking. Everyone praised me and you thought that I was snobbish and proud.”

“And didn”t you think that I had no character ?”

“You thought the same….. you assumed that I had bagged Juliet’s role because of my proximity to Shekhar Sir.”

It was strange to talk about what they had been thinking about each other coz before this they never talked and suddenly they were accusing each other of prejudices. The ease with which they communicated without fighting or raising their voice surprised both of them.

Mortified at the despicable accusation from her, he stood dumbfounded for a moment, staring at her with expressions hard to decipher. Finally, he spoke.

“That’s rubbish and very cheap. I never thought like that about you.”

“But you definitely hate my closeness to Shekhar Sir.”

“Yes……” He didn”t lie.

She threw her hands in air in exasperation, turned and walked away.

He spoke at her back, “But, I didn’t hate ‘you’……I hated your camaraderie with him.”

“Gaurav, he is like an elder brother to me !” Once again, she turned towards him and almost yelled to prove her point.

“What ?!” He murmured.

“Yes…….it isn’t like a relationship between you and Rhea.”

He was truly surprised this time and demonstrated the same with a strong shrug of his shoulders, “What…..what’s between ‘me and Rhea’……?”

“I mean, me and Shekhar Sir are just colleagues, casual friends…. and my feelings for him are sisterly  but you and Rhea are a couple, aren’t you?”

He laughed loudly at this, simultaneously nodding in denial.

“Rhea is a friend and we are a part of the same group, that’s all. The day she was removed from the role, she had turned bitter and tried her very best to make this play a flop.”

“Really ?!?!” A shocked look appeared on her face when she heard that someone had tried to sabotage her debut play. It was scandalous and outrageous for someone to even think so. But why this feeling was accompanied by a subtle relief and happiness, she had no idea.

“Yes. I can never relate to her way of thinking. We have never dated.”

“And I thought………..” she paused, struggling to find proper words to form a shape to her thoughts……struggling to come to terms with her raging emotions and struggling to accept that what she was feeling right now was true, no matter how much she denied it.

He observed her facial creases and tried to read the graph pictured on it. But was unable to succeed. He moved closer to her, focused deep into her amber coloured eyes and whispered to ask, “What? What did you think ? That she is my girlfriend?”

“Hmm……yeah !” she murmured in confusion but couldn’t take her eyes away from his deep brown ones. He was staring at her intensely.

“I know that you don’t have any stage fear, Shruti.” He informed her in a husky baritone, still holding her gaze.

Embarrassed at the revelation, she pursed her lips as he stretched his hand to snatch from her, the phone that she had been holding in her hand.

He glanced at the screen…..

“It’s switched off. I realized on stage that you were extremely confident and all that you spoke a while back on phone was fake……will you deny that you did that to motivate me?”

At loss of words for his subtle accusation, she stood speechless.

He sighed softly in silent gratitude and the two pairs of eyes could have held each other for something like eternity, only if they were not startled by the ringing bell which alerted them that there was very less time left for them to change for the next scene.

The rest of the play moved ahead smoothly.

Shruti enacted each part with refined grace and elegance, earning a roaring applause from the audience. Gaurav was marvelous too, but he was no more thinking about the audience and it’s response. He was bothered only about one girl who believed that he was the best.

The play concluded, leaving the audience feeling overwhelmed at the end of the tragic love story and the finesse with which it was presented. The viewers stood up with heavy hearts and the claps didn’t seem to end for a long time.

Backstage, a new story was beginning…..

Shruti was shocked at being dragged between the two layers of curtains used to separate different scenes in the stage play. They are drawn one by one to enhance the effect and flow between two scenes. Their team had dispersed to different areas from green rooms, washrooms, interacting with audience to refreshments. The audience had started leaving the hall and the stage was empty. The curtains were drawn to close and it was then, when Gaurav held her wrist and pulled her between 2 layers of curtains.

“Hey, what are you doing ?” She whispered to ask.

“Trying to get your time.” He whispered back.

“What do you want?”

“Talk to me.”

“About what ?”

“What’s going on between us ?” He asked intensely.

“I have no idea.” She looked at him squarely.

“Great !! It means that you ‘do’ agree that there is something going on ?”

“Err……..I didn’t mean that…….”

“At least you didn’t say ‘nothing’……..so I guess, there is ‘something’ which is going on from both sides…..”

“Something ??” She stared at him cluelessly.

“Yeah…… ‘something’ ..........'something special' ??!! I say like that coz even I don’t what it is. What do I call this, Shruti ? We never talk to each other, fight constantly, have harbored weird assumptions and prejudices about each other all these days, but we don’t stop thinking about each other.”

She lowered her eyelids and pressed her lips for a moment before releasing them slowly.

He moved a step closer to her and continued, “We assume that the other hates us, we misunderstand and even avoid each other. But will you deny that you keep thinking about me coz I am not going to do that. I thought I hated you and you hated me too….. but I’m so confused now…….how easily you inspired me as you couldn’t see me losing confidence and how difficult it is for me to see you crying.”

She was moved. “Were you upset when I cried ?”

“Of course ! Why did you cry when you hugged the other actors ?”

“It was our last day together. A love story was ending today.” She replied softly with lowered eyelids, “I cried because I thought that we will not meet to rehearse from tomorrow.”

He smiled affectionately.

“All good things come to end someday, but count them as blessings if they end on a positive note and when we gain something from them.”

“Really ?? Did you gain anything?”

“A lot !!”

“Like ?”

“Confidence, self esteem, riddance from stage-fear and……”

“And ?”

“You !!”

Blotches of crimson appeared on her soft cheeks as she blushed hard and tried to turn to walk away. He swiftly moved ahead to block her way and stopped her from going.

She didn’t move after this and stayed still, waiting to hear what he wanted to say.

“Mmm………Can I ask you out for dinner ?” He hesitated but finally asked her.

“Why should I come with you?” She smiled mysteriously and teased him.

He smiled victoriously, before replying, “The feelings that we are going through are potentially dangerous…. they have no name and they may cause significant issues ……for us and people around us…….so we need to find out what this ‘something special’ is …….asap !!”

She laughed loudly at the way he said it and he observed her laughter intently to realize that he had been missing on this radiance that made him feel content and happy, raised his sense of self worth and esteem and made the day appear complete with it’s sunshine.

The source of the sunshine was happy too and her uninhibited laughter proved it.

               …………………………………………………………………………..

Arranged Marriage !!

-->

 Shantanu had returned to India after 2 years. Since last 5 years, he had been studying in New York and finished his studies with post graduation in Business management. He didn’t come home in last 2 years but utilized his vacations learning a lot of other things, some of which were his hobbies and some his passion. During this time, he gained experience and traveled a lot. 
So, finally he was here, back to India, after a long time.

“I am so happy that my son has come back....we are throwing a huge party...” said Madhavi on the dining table.

“No, mom please. I am already tired and have jetlag.......I am going to sleep off again ……..and no party please,” Shaan requested.

“We have already invited our friends and everyone at office too is excited to see you back. Relatives are dying to meet you and friends have lined up with marriage proposals of their classy daughters for my son.” Madhavi was excited to inform.

“What? Marriage?...........No.........Not so soon.” He declared.

“Why? Everybody has to get married. You have completed your studies, will be joining business from Monday.....it’s high time, that we start looking for prospective brides for you....or if you have someone in your life, then we don’t mind.” Madhavi tried to know if he had a steady affair ready to be culminated into a forever bond.

“No, mom………...I am single.”

“Awww…….....come to party tonight.........you won’t regret.”

“Mom, please…......”

“Listen beta, you will meet many people tonight,” intervened Sunil, “There will be business partners, friends……many girls. One of our friend and business partner Mr. Sharma’s daughter is also coming tonight.......we all love her a lot. She has helped us many times in business presentations and meetings. When Mr. Sharma discussed this proposal with us.........all of us were elated. Obviously, we won’t force you, but I think you should meet her ……..”

“Dad......aap bhi shuroo ho gaye,......” Shaan was disgusted.

“Ek baar milne mein kya buraai hai?”

“But I am just not thinking of marriage….” He protested without any hope.

Madhavi and Sunil left to take care of the party preparations……leaving the brothers on the table.

“Bhaiya,.....I am screwed up......what to do now?”

“Chotey, just meet her once......she is good….her name is Khanak.”

“Why? I don’t understand, why should I meet any random girl…….. out of the blue..... Firstly, I don’t want to get married now.....not before I am 30 years old...........I have made a deadline for myself……...I have much more to explore than get married and romance my wife. Secondly, I will never marry without love.....No way !!!!”

“Okay, it’s no big deal........so you don’t get married to her……..just meet her and tell us that you don’t like her........dad and mom will never force you……...”

“I know that ………...but this will be so bad...............No, I don’t think it is right !”

“So, just talk to her in a friendly way and tell her that you are not ready for marriage. She will understand and won’t be hurt……..”

“Slightly better idea.....” he murmured thinking about it.

In the evening, Shantanu did not take pains to get ready for the party. While Akshay and Sunil wore suits, he wore a black shirt and blue jeans. He always believed in dressing as he felt like and today was no different. He didn’t want to get ready like already prepared to head to the altar.

Madhavi and Khushboo visited the beauty parlour before the party, and as Sunil ordered their driver to pick up some relatives from the airport, they realized at the last moment, that they did not have a driver and car and asked Sunil to send someone. Finally, Shantanu went to pick both of them from the parlour.

There was huge traffic on the roads and they became a little late while returning back. Sunil was mad at them and Madhvi and Khushboo rushed inside followed by Shaan.

The party was huge and rocking. The family made Shantanu meet a lot of business partners, friends, their daughters…………. so much that Shantanu was finally fed up.

“Shaan, I have forgotten my cell phone in the car.....can you please bring it?”

“Sure Bhabhi....” he was more than elated to move out from there.

 As he headed for the parking space.....the darkness increased and the lights and noise of sound faded. He felt much better now and relieved from the suffocation that the crowd offered. He never wanted to pick up bhabhi’s phone and go back to the party…….......so he opened the car, took the phone and strolled around for a few minutes in the parking lot and on a secluded small road adjoining it. He didn’t want to go inside, for the fear of meeting the unknown stranger……. threatening to be his wife. Meeting a girl and then behaving irresponsibly by saying ‘no’ to her......... would be so cheap, he thought. He was principally against such arrangements.

He was very far from the party hall and felt peaceful here. It started drizzling and he enjoyed the water droplets and slowly, the size of droplets increased to an extent that it gained the capacity to wet anyone. He had generally disliked getting wet but today he didn’t know why, but he felt like soaking himself in the rain. He was in Mumbai rain after 2 years.......and he stood there, feeling it all over him.

Suddenly, he felt a strong presence around his left side........and as he turned subtly, he saw a shadow and a red odhani following it to a small shade…......he considered it to be his illusion and returned to his reverie……..he closed his eyes and turned up his face towards the sky to feel the showers on his face.

“Hey, what are you doing?” the shadow could speak. He turned towards the voice, startled by the sudden break in his spell, only to get into another one……..while a hand with fine, delicate fingers wrapped around his wrist and dragged him towards it. He couldn’t speak anything and was numb to react as he saw the hand drag him towards a small shade by the end of the parking space.

“What are you doing? It is raining...........you’ll get wet and fall ill.”

He was dumbfounded at the interaction. She must have been around, while he strolled and he hadn’t noticed her. She ran immediately as it started raining and he wasn’t sure why she made him come with her. He still wasn’t able to see her face clearly, as she had turned all her hair on one side and ran fingers through them to keep them dry. Her red chiffon odhani swayed in breeze touching him in between and leaving him stunned more. He had felt her fingers on her wrist and they were soft, very soft, yet so firm....burning on touch. Her voice was like millions of musical instruments playing in coherence.

Shaan, focus !!........why are you so mesmerized? You have been with girls before !!

He turned away and looked in the other direction. It had started raining heavily, and it was impossible to walk away without getting completely drenched…......they were saved due to the small shade, good enough for two and well covered;

He looked back at her and was surprised to find her looking at him. He was ‘taken’ by her eyes..........black, doe-shaped, deep........captivating !! He tried not to look at her directly and looked away once again, trying to deviate his attention.

He realised that it was the parking lot..........for his party……...so, who is she? he thought.

“Did you come for this party?” he asked trying to act casual.

“Of course ! My dad brought me to this ‘boring ‘ party..........”

“Is it boring?” he was not very happy on listening to this, but still liked her honesty.

“It is.............believe me. All such parties are boring, especially this one......”

“And, what is so specially boring about it?”

“Don’t you know?..........Sunil uncle’s son has returned from US.....now explain it to me, that when someone returns from America, why should I be so excited?”

“True........exactly,” he said wondering, “And when, even he doesn’t know anyone here at all…….”

“That’s what………..,” she said opening up, “but dads don’t understand. How easily you  could understand what I felt........but these oldies……..they never listen, never understand, force you to meet people you have never seen or met.....and hope that you will get married to them.............it sucks.”

“You too.....??” he asked surprised.

“You mean to say........is the same with you ??” she broke in a beautiful laughter reaching her eyes, spreading across all over her face and  made him smile too.

“Yeah.....” he laughed with embarrassment.

“I get it….......these parties, you know......we should re-name them as marriage bureaus.”

He just laughed at this.

“I mean it............all they talk of is that how to increase business and how to hook one’s daughter with other’s son. Gosh !!! they should get a life..........”

He had been with many women before.....he had girlfriends in New York....but she was something else. He had never talked so openly, like this, to a stranger before. He was completely smitten by her.

 “Exactly..........so that is what made you loiter around here?” he was enjoying talking to her.

 “Yeah.........just like you.........I was trying to avoid this party, this match making and that Shantanu Khandelwal.”

“What?? Why him?”

“He is the one who I am supposed to meet......” she answered as a matter of fact.

“Have you seen him before?” he asked softly, trying to judge her.

“Never.........and I don’t want to see him too……..”

“Why?” he was disappointed……forgetting that even he was avoiding meeting her.

“I can’t get married to him….....am not going to meet him. Why meet someone, who I clearly, don’t want to get married to….....”

“Any specific reasons....?”

“Why should I tell you...?”

“Because ‘I’ am Shantanu Khandelwal.....”

“Omggggg......” she put her hand on her face.

“Yes,......I am ‘The Shantanu’ who is the host of this ‘boring’ party, who came from New York , yesterday and is responsible for troubling so many people to make them feel excited…. ‘just because he came back’ and the person who your dad wanted you to meet.......”

 She twitched her lips and ran her tongue on her dry lips between a very embarrassed smile.

“Alright........so ‘you’ are Ms. Khanak.....’The Much-hyped Khanak’ ....who everybody in my family is crazy about................”.he spoke in a jovial tone and smiled.

“I am so sorry for all that I spoke……please forgive me….….” She said and pouted.

“Only, on one condition....”

“And that is……”

“You have to tell me that why were you strolling here to avoid meeting me.....I mean, why were you avoiding me......??”

“But then, even you were lurking out here and you accepted just now, that even you didn’t want to meet me.....”

“I have my reasons…..and I will tell you that...........but it started with you.....” (he didn’t have any reasons now, he just wanted to be with her, was completely besotted by her…. ....she had overpowered his thoughts…….. everything…....)

“Okay......I don’t believe in marrying someone I don’t love……..and actually, I like someone else.........” she blushed again taking away all colour from his face. He looked at her with blank expressions on his pale face and tried to hide his disappointment.

He was just hurt at ego, he thought, and couldn’t possibly fall for her in so less time..... they had just met. He had been with a lot of women, some of which he found interesting and many of them found him interesting.

He was always confident of himself. He had everything that a girl looked for, when considering a man……But here she was, least perturbed by his persona…….he had never been rejected so outrightly.

Is it rejection that is hurting me? Or something else? He shrugged to himself, trying to shrug off the disappointment. For the first time, he had liked someone instantly, and she liked someone else……

“Who is the lucky guy?” he said…..he didn’t know why he did not like it !!!

“First you tell, your reasons.....”

“I have just returned from America, have lots of dreams to achieve………I want to settle myself professionally and I don’t want to get hooked so soon.............not before 30.” He said recalling the earlier reasons, which seemed shallow now. He so wanted to be around her…….of course, he wasn’t sure about the marriage thing…..

“Oh God !! Do guys think like that?”

“I don’t know about all guys, but most of us think like that…..........and men are generally commitment –phobic, so they tend to push marriage as far as they can………”

“I am trying to understand….”

“Why? Why are you trying to understand?”

“To understand men in general…….”

“So who is the lucky guy?” he repeated the question.

“He works as a Senior manager in your company…..his name is Suraj,” she spoke slowly and he noticed that she hesitated while talking about him.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone……so since how long have you been with him…?”

“It’s nothing. I came to your office a few times and liked him. I just like him, he doesn’t know….”

 “So you are not in a relationship?? You like someone from one-side !!” he saw a ray of hope, hiding a smile.

What?? Shaan what are you thinking....it’s not even half an hour since you met her.....

“Hell ! no, it’s not a relationship….......I like him....since I came to your office ....I lost my senses when I saw him.”

He felt bitter again, hearing her sigh on Suraj. He had loads of girlfriends but had never felt this way....and she wasn’t even his girlfriend…....

He realized that he needed to go away and more than that, he needed a drink !!

The rain had stopped and they started walking, he walked faster and she almost followed him, trying to keep pace with him.

“Shantanu Khandelwal...........will you help me?” she called when she was a little behind due to wet grass.

“Help? In what?” he turned back and asked.

“See, you just told me what you feel about marriage.....may be there are so many gestures and things that I don’t know or understand about Suraj.....can you help me figuring out what he thinks?”

 “Why should I help you?” he shrugged.

“Because friends always help each other....”

“Friends?....... We have just met......”

“So what......there is something that clicks…..it doesn’t need time. And you know, there is a ‘connect’ between two people. Either it is there or not………..the way we could connect immediately told me that we will make great friends.” She smiled.

He smiled back and did not answer her. They were about the reach the party hall when she turned to him and made him stand too.

“So, you tell me……will you help me?”

“What am I supposed to do?” he said, giving up. He just knew that he wanted her to keep talking to him. And this feeling made him feel helpless. He had never imagined that he will ever behave like that with a girl.

“For start……tell your parents that you like me and we have decided to get married.”

“What ?”

“See, you don’t want to get married for next 4-5 years…..this will save both of us from meeting further any prospective suitors for us and give me time too……”

“But………….I don’t think it is good to ……..” he spoke but was interrupted.

“Listen, what they do is no good either. My dad will pester me and will try to find another groom for me……if you refuse. Please……..”

He felt a pang somewhere deep down in his heart and knew it was an unusual feeling. Even he did not want her dad to look for any other boy for her.

“Alright…….I am with you……”

“Thanks………” she was elated.

As decided, they told their parents that they met each other in the party and liked each other. The only difference was that Shantanu meant what he spoke. He had really liked her and given a chance, he would have considered her for something serious. He had been clean bowled by her. 

She joined their office again, in an attempt to see Suraj and meet him. Shantanu had not met Suraj yet, but never knew that he would be so uncomfortable and angry at someone without even meeting him. He hated even the name of Suraj.

She used to come everyday to the office and sit with him for a long time, chatting in between work. They talked a lot and he constantly tried to shun her thoughts away from his system. The more he tried, the more he failed.

They usually went for coffee and lunch together and she made him speak more than he usually did. He met her at office in the daytime and dreamt about her at night. After coming from NY,  he did not make even a single female friend or girlfriend. It wasn’t that he was abnormal, but he didn’t get attracted to someone after her…….knowing very well that he needed a life and she was trying to woo Suraj.

“Shantanu, I don’t know what to do?” she said once, twitching her lips.

“Why don’t you just go and tell him?” he said irked at her, though he never wanted her to do this and later regretted even suggesting this, as she took it seriously.

“I always thought that there is no need to tell someone, that you like him……people understand themselves. And there is no place for verbal confession.”

“It is important, believe me,” he said, thinking about his own condition, “people might not understand unless you tell them. Even if they do, there may be doubts…..we are all humans…..vulnerable to insecurities, hurt……even if he understands, he might not be able to make the first move……someone has to do it.”

“So, you think there is a need to say ‘I love you’……”

“I don’t think there is always a ‘need’………..no there is no ‘need’…….but if you do it, especially in initial stages……..it makes the other person feel wanted, loved, treasured ………gives him confidence that you value him and keep him above others………you can say it ‘only’ ‘if’ you feel it for someone……….and if you really love someone…… …I think saying it kind-of  ‘seals the deal’….….” he spoke like a true businessman.

 He was not sure what he himself felt for her, but it was definitely not friendliness, he was sure of that. She was on his mind 24*7……..he dreamt of her…..he missed her when she was late and dreaded that she might not come that day………he loved hearing her talk… ….he loved sharing his own feelings, his experiences with her……..he loved just being with her even without speaking when they seriously worked together……..he wanted to share everything he had with her……..he wanted to hold her……touch her…..feel her… ……kiss her…….!!

He shuddered at the thoughts and shrugged them off when he saw her sitting in front of him and looking at him amused as he was staring at her lost in her thoughts. He wondered if he should follow his own advice and tell her about his condition before she did.

Maybe she gave him a chance, considered him and found him better than Suraj….

Have I fallen in love with her? Is it love? But how…….no it must be a physical attraction and I am getting more crazy because she is the first one in this world to reject me…..she didn’t even look at me properly and was always lost in Suraj’s world. It hurt my ego……it’s simply an ego fight………it might not be love…… he told himself and once again tried to shun away her thoughts from his mind.

He advised her regarding many things that she could do to impress Suraj, and regretted immediately every time after he spoke. His life had started becoming a mess and his mind and heart became out of his control, not listening to any of his commands. He felt helpless.

He was trying to concentrate on a file on his desk when he heard a knock on the door and saw her entering inside. She wore a blue chiffon saree with her silky hair let loose on her shoulders, minimal makeup, small ear-rings and a few bangles on her wrist. She looked divine and breathtakingly beautiful.

He sighed and tried to control his heart from racing fast. She came and sat in front of him.

“How do I look?” she finally asked.

“You look gorgeous…..” he said trying to appear casual and unaffected, focusing on the file.

“Didn’t you say, that men liked women in sarees…….do you think it is good?”

“Of course, it is……you look amazing…..” he still avoided looking at her directly or she would have read what his eyes spoke.

“Thanks……” she blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear.

He tried not to stare at her.

“So, do you think, if I go and talk to him, he will be attracted……?”

“Maybe, he is already attracted to you and is not able to tell you……..”

“Didn’t you say that day…. that it is important to tell………?”

“I did…….but not everyone is able to tell what he feels, it depends on circumstances too.”

“Shantanu, I am trying my best to make the circumstances favourable, even then if someone is not able to speak, it is his fault……”

“Why don’t you say?”

“Can a girl say first?”

“Yes, Of course………..we live in 21^st century. Girls can do anything…..and when it comes to liking someone……why not?” he stood up from his chair and came towards her side and spoke leaning on the desk.

“If I speak first, will he be able to understand? Won’t he think that I am some cheap, desperate kind of female……”

He hated to hear anything like that for her, “Not at all. Everyone knows you……you are so genuine and upfront. You are not saying it to everyone, just to one person……and if he really knows you, he will understand……”

“If a girl came to you and told you how much she loves you……” she whispered, stood up looking at his eyes and asked innocently.

He didn’t answer and was disturbed by her presence as she had unknowingly come very close while getting up from her chair.

He looked at her face and his eyes dropped to her lips that he had been obsessing over since past one month. Even after trying hard to control himself, he was not able to listen to his mind and leaned forwards, where she was hardly a step away, and kissed her. Her lips were softer than he had imagined and she gasped lightly out of shock but did not break it. He slipped his arms around her slender waist taking her in an embrace and she slowly slid her hands behind the nape of his neck taking his hair between her fingers. He brought her much closer that she could feel his heart beats and quivering lips over hers. Millions of sensations went through her and she could feel her spine aching, her mind ringing and her neck stiffening in an attempt to stay attuned to him, as she kissed him back. Her heart raced and her willpower clouded for several minutes when all they could feel was each other. He left a trail of kisses when he moved away from her lips to her cheek, her eyes, her forehead and his hands cupped her face after finding it difficult to stay at her waist. He moved himself away to look at her face, her eyes were closed and she shivered with trembling lips.

He felt like saying that how much he loved her but stopped himself. She could feel his heavy breath on her face and was about to say something when someone knocked at the door. They composed themselves within a few seconds and while he ordered the person out side to come in, she walked away slowly, without even looking back at him.

A few papers were about to be signed. He did that and sent the unwanted visitor back. After that he tried hard but couldn’t concentrate on work. He couldn’t keep her out of his mind.

So, he told Akshay that he was leaving and took the half day off to go home. On his way out, he saw Suraj in his cabin working seriously and secretly envied him.

He spent the whole day remembering her. And decided that he ‘needed’ to tell her what he felt about her. He didn’t want her to think of him as a guy who tried to take advantage of a female in a weak moment and shuddered at the thought of her hating him. He knew that she would be really angry at him right now, but she should know how much he loved her and for him she was more precious and special than anything else in his life. He was now sure that he was in love with her and genuinely felt the need to be with her all the time.

But, the possibility of her being upset at him made him nervous.

Should he forget it…..and ask her to forget it too !! Should he wait for her to respond.

She had not called him or talked to him since morning.

His mind was just not responding correctly as he was completely lost and without any clue, what he should do…..

After that 4 days passed and there was no news from her. Shantanu became really anxious about her well being and also whether she was upset at him. She had to be really angry as he had behaved in such an immature way. He had kissed her in his office. She had trusted him and talked to him non-stop for so many days and all he could do was become physical with her. He felt let down by himself and extremely miserable.

He realized that he had to talk to her and apologise and maybe will never tell her that he loved her or maybe he would……he wasn’t able to decide.

Apologising was something definite which he had decided……so he thought to proceed in that direction first.

He considered calling her but then thought that he should go and talk to her, even if it carried the risk of getting a slap from her, at least he should try to save whatever sweet relationship they had.

He called her……she picked up the phone.

“Khanak, it’s me….”

“I know……” she spoke slowly.

“Where are you……” his words were cautiously measured.

“At my home……….where are you?”

“At the parking of your building…………I want to talk to you…..”

“Come up…..’

“I can’t talk in front of your parents…..”

“No one is home……....they have gone to meet your parents…..”

He parked his car and took the elevator. He couldn’t judge anything from her voice and that made him feel more terrible. He knew that he had to apologise and if possible, tell her how he felt…..but all this seemed like a difficult project right now. The lift took ages to reach the tenth floor and he tapped his foot impatiently.

When he pressed the doorbell, she opened the door within a few seconds……She looked angelic in a light blue kurta and a loose white salwar……her hair were half-wet and there was a fresh lavender aroma around…..she appeared to have had a shower some time back and looked fresh and tempting.

He did not expect her to smile when she asked him to come inside, but she did and closed the door. He followed her inside but was completely speechless. Finally he gathered some courage to speak.

“How are you?”

“How do I look?” she spoke softly turning to look at him.

“Why did you not come to the office for 4 days?”

“Did you miss me?”

“Can you answer for an answer, why do you question back when you are supposed to answer?”

“Why are you asking the questions when you know the answers?”

“Are you always this stubborn?”

“Why do you want to know more about me?”

“I am going back…..……” he started to turn.

“No, you wanted to talk, right?”

“I can’t…….”

“I know you can….…..” she said looking at him and added hopefully.

He saw a ray of hope again and couldn’t guess why but he thought she knew what he wanted to say……he stopped where he was.

He walked towards her and stood maintaining a comfortable distance.

“I am sorry…..”

“For what?” she asked.

“I kissed you that day……” he said after shrugging lightly.

“In that case, I should be saying sorry too…..” she spoke looking at him.

“For what?”

“I kissed you back……”

The thought and the feeling that arose after remembering that kiss….sent shivers of thrill around him. He realized that she was right. She did kiss him back.

“But why? Why did you kiss me back?” he spoke confused.

“because, I wanted you to kiss me and was waiting for you to kiss me….”

“Me?”

“Yes, you ! I wore a pretty saree for you but it seemed as if you were completely unaffected.”

“You wore it for me? But didn’t you tell me that you wanted to impress ‘him’.

“Dumbo….” She came closer and wound her arms around his neck and spoke softly, “If I wanted to impress ‘him’…….I would have asked him…..not you.”

“How do I know? You kept talking about him all the time….……”

“You couldn’t see that though I kept talking about him, but I never tried to talk ‘to’ him……but I talked ‘to’ you……I spent time ‘with’ you……not him…..”

“You asked what men liked……” he was completely confused.

“I meant…. ‘you’……I wanted to know what you liked and did exactly that……but you were never affected…..”

“I was…………I was affected……..severely…..”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why didn’t ‘you’ tell me……. ‘you’ were playing games. I always thought you liked Suraj.”

“How could I have said it? I had told you that I liked him……now after a few days if I say that Shantanu, I don’t like him…..actually I like you…..what would you have thought about me. Moreover, I was not sure what you felt about me…….so there was always a fear of rejection, until you kissed……but you could have always said it……”

“How could I say it to a girl who kept talking of some other man…....by the way…… when did you realize that you like me and not him…..”

“Always…..” she shrugged and said casually.

“What?”

“Suraj was a small crush,” she showed a small sign using her thumb and index finger, “and I always used his name to evade marriage…..but the day I first came to your office, I realized that I wanted to talk to you, sit with you and spend time with you…..I couldn’t stay away from you but my mistake, had already taken Suraj’s name, so couldn’t say anything…..just kept thinking whether you felt the same…...and hoped for you to feel something and say it……..”

“Oh God…..you almost killed me…..you silly,” he held her closely placing hands on her back.

“I was so nervous…….thought you will get me married to Suraj instead…..so interested were you in helping me…….”

“Forget it……….I was nervous that you will get married to him and I won’t be able to do anything.”

“Never, I would have made you fall in love with me…..”

“You didn’t need to……….I was already in love with you……”

She blushed and closed her eyes tilting her chin to raise her lips inviting him and he simply obliged.