Part 10

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All's well(?)

It was the next day.

Rishi was in Anusol(hospital) with vardan. They had their product ad. And Rishi proposed his thought of marrying Annika in front of vardhan.

V:Rishi..?

R:sir aap hyper mat huiye. Mujhe mariye mat ha.! Please.(he said being really scared)

V:lekin Rishi..?

R: sir me ne apko jo jo hua sab bata diya hai. Aur I think me mere taraf se clear hu. Aur me Annika ko apni patni hi manta hu. Ab mujhe apko ye baat batani thi as me ne promise kiya tha Annika ko. Sir ye pura Annika pe depend karta hai.

V: ab me kuch bolu...?(being irritated)

R: um. Ha.

V:thank you. Deko me tume jaanta hu. Tumare pariwar ko janta hu. Aur mujhe pata hai tumare parivar me meri anu khush rahegi. Aur tumare is pure non stop aur never ending kahani se mujhe ye bhi pata chala ki tum Annika se kitna pyaar karte ho. Me anu se bat karunga.

Rishi was shocked. Saying this would be understatement.

He did not expected this response.

Seeing rishi not replying.

V:rishi..? Arrey rishi bolo...

R:ji sir.. wo me ye expect nai karaha tha. Mujhe laga aj khub dulai hogi aur mujhe Annika k baap. Oops(he bit his tongue) apko manane k liye mujhe filmo jaise karte hai waisa kuch karna padega..! Yehan tho matlab. Kismat achi hai meri.

Vardhan chuckled seeing his drams.

V:tho..?

R:tho..? Arrey matlab. Me wait karsakta hu sir. Lekin Annika nai tho koi aur nai.

V:me bolunga use.

R: sir please use hi decide karne do. I'll wait.

V: thank you rishi.

R:(smiled) ji me chalta hu. (He went till the door, looked at vardhan.) Bye hone wale sasur ji.(then he ran as soon as possible, and here vardhan was laughing at his antics)

"Ye anu k liye na bilkul sahi hai. Wo bhi tho jhalli hai, naoutanki, aur ye bhi kam dramebaaz nai hai" he spoke to himself and chuckled.

~

Afternoon around 3 rishi had come to annika's office.

When he asked about her. He was instructed to wait for her. In her cabin. He went in and stood near the window taking a good view of Mumbai. Annika came in.

A: Rishi..? Ap..?

R: hm tumse milne aya tha. Actually ye.. (he handed her the check) ye dene aya tha. Ye event manage karne k liye.

A: lekin apki shaadi tho hui nai na!

R: lekin tumne sajawat tho ki thi na. And this is pure business sweetheart! Aur kuch nai. Aur ye me ne nai dad ne kaha dene k liye.

A:hmm! Ok. Lekin jitna kam kiya utna hi lungi.

Rishi smiled. (She sat on her chair)

A:aur kuch ..?

R:me ne vardhan sir se baat ki aaj. And he is OK with it. Lekin decision tumara hoga Annika. Ye bhi me ne bata diya hai. Sab kuch A to Z bataya hai. Kuch nai chupaya me ne.

A: hm.

R: teek hai me chalta hu.

A: ok. (Saying this She took a paper in hurry and the paper wait fell on her toes, left leg)

"Ahhh"

Rishi turned back. And saw her wincing in pain with slight tears.

R: Annika...!(he ran to her) kya hua.

A: pair..!🥺

He sat on his knees in front of her.

He took them in his hands.

A: Rishi.. kya kar rahe ho aap.. please chodiye.(she took back her leg but it pained)

R: chup ek dum chup. Ek tho Dyan pata nai kaha tha. Kaise hua ye..?

A: wo paper wait. Ahh😖(in pain)

R: paper wait..? Annika tum na. Ek mint.

He took out her shoes.

R: ye deko kitna laal hogaya hai. Come.

A: kaha..?

R: arrey couch pe baito.

Annika got up with holding his hands.

R: chal sakti ho..?

Annika nodded.

He made her sit there and again sat on his knees.

R: zyada dard tho nai hai na.?

A: nai utna nai hai teek ho jayega. Me teek hu. Thank you.

R:hot water bag ya kuch hai..?

A: nai hai. Yehan nai hai mangvana padega.

R: me le ata hu. Receptionist se..?

A: nai ap rehene do.

(she knew he cared. Specially after him expressing his feelings for her. She was subconsciously observing his care and love. But she couldn't accept this so easily. She herself didn't know what was holding her back. Was it the thing happened with Neha..? Or neha's words..?)

R:oye..! Kaha kho gayi..? Kab se bula raha ru..! Are you fine..?

A:ji ha. Nai nai nai chahiye. Thank you.

R: me chalta hu. Dyan rakna. Ok.?! Bye. (He softly delicately placed a kiss on her forehead. She was awestruck with this. Yes of course she knew he feels for her but this kiss.? )

A:Rishi..!(she called his as he left)

R: ha bolo.

A:mujhe apse baat karni hai.

Rishi passed a gentle smile.

R: bolo.

A: abi nai raat ko.

R: teek hai. Kab aur kahan jana hai..?

A: me boldungi.

R:ok then bye.

A:arrey kya bye bye kiye jarahe ap..? Ap tho abi se mujhse bagh rahe ho.. shaadi k baad kya hoga..? Ah...? Itni jaldi thak gaye ap mujhse...? Chalo jaou. Kab se bye bye bye. Dimak ki dhai bana di is bye ne. Kaise bulaou apko..? Kabootar beju..? Apka phone number tho do. Aise hi bye bye. Had hai.

Rishi was lost in her words he was seriously gazing her.

A:kya ab bologe ap kuch...?

R:tumne kya kaha..?

A:me ne kaha ki apka number do.

R: nai usse pehele..nai actually rehene do. Raat ko milte hai. Aur ye mera number 9087564541.

A:ok.

She saw him still standing there.

A:ab kya jaou...!!

R: arrey yaar tum na pagal ho. Me jaraha tha tho rok li ab ruka hua hu tho bhaga rai ho.

Annika was mum.

R: teek hai jaraha hu. Bye. Okok bye nai bolunga. See you soon.

Annika smiled.

Rishi left her cabin and headed to the left.

"Tumne bato bato me boldiya Annika ki tum kya chati ho. Lekin afsoos tume khud hi us baat ka ehesaas nai hai. Teek hai. Mujhe pata tho chala ki tum actual me kya chati ho. Thank you. Ab me wait kar raha hu tumse milne. Bas hope ki sab kuch teek hojaye.!" He thought to himself and drove back to his office.

In the evening around 7pm

She was in her room sitting at the edge of the bed. when Vardhan entered with the tray of two coffee mugs.

V:anu..?

A:ji.

V:free.

A:papa...?! What's this.?! Ha..?

V:hume time hi nai mila tho I just wanted to speak and have some good time with you love.(he kept the tray on the table and settled beside her)

A:mom kahan hai..? Mammaaaaa(she scremt)

V:arai hai. Waise you seem to be lost. Kya baat hai.?

Annika lowerd her gaze.

An:ahem ahem... may I come in..?

A:mamma..!

Anju came and settled herself on the table in front of the duo.

An:anu..? All fine..?

A:papa... mujhe apse bat karni hai.

An: tho me chalu.

A: no no mom. Mujhe ap dono se baat karni hai.

An:arrey wa. Aj kya suraj ulta nikla kya anu mujhse apna secrets share karai hai aj.

A:ha tho itni mushkil se bolrai hu tho ap sunlo. Baad me mat blame karo mujhe.(with a daughterly right)

Annika layed her head on vardhan's shoulder and with left she held anju's hand.

V:bolo na dolu. Kya hua..?(he gently caressed her hair)

A:ap jante ho.

V:oh OK. On that. Topic. Ok ab tum bolo kya bolna hai.

A:mujhe nai pata papa. Ki kya karu. Dar lagraha hai ki kahi me galat tho nai hu agar me manli tho.

V:lekin tume lagta hai ki Rishi galat hai ya jhut bolraha hai tume le k..?

A:nai papa. Mujhe nai pata. Agar ye..

V:shh.. ok tum jo bhi karo apni dil ki suno. Aur rishi ne mujhe strict order diya hai ki me tume kisi bhi chees ya decision ko le k force na karu.

A:order(she came out of his embrace with the jerk) unki itni himmat. Wo tho gaye ab.

V:arrey matlab. Actually mujhe se zyada tho uska matlab tum samjti ho ki usne aise kyu kaha. And me bas ye kehena chata hu ki usne kuch bhi nai chupai anu. Kuch bhi nai. Jaise wo tumari job ko le k tume neecha dikaya aur phir tum dono ki jagada tumne uski kaise dekbal ki jab wo nashe me dhut tha jaise tumne uske liye stand liye. Sab kuch bataya usne sab kuch. I just think ki he is true. Baki tumari marzi. Just listen to your heart.

A:hmm... (usne sab kuch bataya..? Hamare misunderstanding bhi..?)

V:tho...?

A: me milne jaoungi use. Lekin mera jawab kya hoga mujhe pata nai.

He was in his room waiting for her call. Just then his phone beeped.

She smiled seeing his antics and hurriedly got freshed and was waiting for him.

~~~*~~~

They were sitting in the restaurant at a corner with only one seat. The both were sitting next to each other. There was a wall in front of them.

R: tho kya socha tumne..? Kya baat karni hai.

A: Rishi ap.(She was unable to talk or frame a sentence, while rishi placed his hands on hers giving assurance)

R:sach kahu tho mujhe pata hai tum kya bolna chati ho. Par tumse sunne chata hu.

A:matlab..?

R: tum bolo pehele me boldunga baad me.

A(took a deep breath) Rishi. Me nai janti ki ye sahi hai ya galat. Jald bazi hai ya der hogayi. Lekin me.

R: bolo na please.(he pressed her hands with tension in his mind not able to take this suspence)

A:me ye shaadi....

To be continued..!