Race
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Tarika was speaking to him sitting next to him in his car but Abhijeet was lost in her eyes. Tarika shook him by his shoulder.
"Abhijeet main kuch bol rahi hu, tum sun bhi rahe ho?"
Abhijeet smiled still staring at her like before."Tum itni khoobsurat kyun ho Tarika?"
Tarika took a moment to look away blushing."Abhijeet please! Ab bahut ho gaya. Main tumhari car me isilye aakar baithi hu taki tum mujhe mere ghar drop karo isilye nahi ki baith kar mujhe ghoorte raho."
"Han main tumhe drop kar dunga but..."Abhijeet was just speaking when suddenly Daya interrupted him by arriving there in his new car. He was looking royal.
He stopped parallel to him.
Tarika looked at Daya and her mouth opened slightly."Oh my god! What a beautiful car! Daya ye tumhari gadi hai?"
Daya grinned proudly. "Aur kiski ho sakti hai?"
Daya glanced at Abhijeet and his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Tarika tum ye kya khatara gadi me baithi ho? Mere sath aao, main drop kar deta hu na tumhe!"
Abhijeet drew his brows together."Khatara kisko bola tumne?"He grumbled.
Tarika giggled.
"Come on Abhijeet! Purani car ko khatara hi bolte hain. Chalti kam hai rukti jyada hai."Daya said and laughed.
Abhijeet glared at him. "O hello! mujhse jyada ye car tum chalaya karte the. Aaj khud ki nayi car le li to ye khatara ho gayi? Waah kya baat hai!"
Daya shrugged,"Ab jo sach hai wo sach hai!""
"Kya sach hai? Bakwas mat karo!"Abhijeet snapped. "Meri car purani hai to kya hua tumhari car se behtar hai? Pata nahi kisne suggest kiya tumhe? Ekdum ghatiya model lekar aaye ho!"
"Haha!"Daya burst out laughing."Kuch jalne ki boo aa rahi hai."
"Main kyun jalunga. Apni ye bakwas car lekar niklo yaha se. Tarika ko main drop kar dunga."Abhijeet said.
"Wo Tarika ko decide karne do ki wo kiske sath jayegi. Tumhari 'khatara' car me ya phir meri iss nayi car me."Daya said and looked at Tarika.
Tarika sighed."Tum dono pagal ho kya? Ekdum bachho ki terah lad rahe ho."She turned to Abhijeet."Dekho Abhijeet, Daya kuch galat nahi keh raha. Obviously uski car tumse achhi hai. Wo ekdum latest model ki latest car hai aur tumhari saalo purani. Uska aur tumhara koi mukabla nahi. Admit it!"
Daya chuckled victoriously.
Now Abhijeet was offended."Muqabala?"He nodded in determination,"theek hai to phir chalo muqabala ho hi jaye. Sabko pata lag jayega kiski car better hai."
"Matlab?"Tarika and Daya asked.
Abhijeet grabbed the steering and looked at Daya. "Ek race ho jaye. Meri aur tumhari car ke beech."
Daya thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay! Ho jaye!"
"Kya? Race?"Tarika was not convinced.
"Han race!"Abhijeet snapped,"aur ye sab tumhari wajeh se ho raha hai to tum chup chap baitho aur dekho ki kaun pehle finishing line tak pahuchata hai. Uske baad decide karna ki tumhe ghar tak kaun drop karega."
"Okay!"Tarika said excitedly.
Daya knew messing with Abhijeet is not a good idea but he could not back off now. He played a new card.
"Lekin Abhijeet, Tarika tumhare sath baithegi to tum hi jeetoge na. Aakhir lady luck ka bhi to kuch role hota hai."Daya said cunningly.
Tarika suppressed her smile.
"Lady luck!"Abhijeet chuckled, "dar gaye to bahana bana rahe ho?"
"Main kyun darunga?"Daya said.
Suddenly Tarika spotted Shreya coming towards parking lot. She beamed with joy.
"Ek minute Daya, agar baat lady luck ki hi hai to Shreya bhi idhar hi aa rahi hai. Usko baitha lo apni gadi me!"Tarika said.
Abhijeet almost jumped. "Waah kya sahi time pe entry mari hai Shreya ne."
Daya felt his throat drying. "Are yaar kya tum log bhi. Use kyun beech me la rahe ho? Jane do use kuch jaroori kaam hoga."
But Abhijeet already gave a call to Shreya."Shreya, ek minute idhar aana!"
Shreya heard him and obediently made her way towards them.
"Yes sir, aapne bulaya!"She said politely to Abhijeet.
Daya was sitting quietly looking here and there like he can't see her there.
"Shreya meri aur Daya ki car ke beech ek race hone wali hai. Tumhe kya lagta hai kaun jeetega?"Abhijeet said.
Shreya looked at Daya and his new car. Daya looked towards her expecting her favour.
"Sir Daya sir ki car nayi hai...
Daya smiled before Shreya added
"... but... Old is gold!"
Abhijeet laughed. Daya made a face.
Tarika rolled her eyes."Guys stop beating about the bush. Direct point pe aao na."She looked at Shreya,"Dekho Shreya, main abhijeet ki car me baithi hu to Daya ka kehna hai ki meri wajeh se Abhijeet ka jeetna asaan ho jayega because I am his lady luck. Isilye Daya chahta hai ki tum uski gadi me uske sath baitho because you know... You are his lady luck!"Tarika said winking at Shreya who immediately started blushing.
"Ab sharnana chodo Shreya, jaldi se uski gadi me baitho."Abhijeet said.
Shreya looked at Daya. He said nothing but welcomed her by opening the door for her. Shreya smiled and happily sat in.
Abhijeet looked at Shreya. "I am sorry Shreya, main tumhe harne wali car me baithne ke liye keh raha hu."He said and laughed.
Shreya just smiled fastening her seatbelt and looked at Daya.
"Wo to waqt batayega ki kaun harne wala hai."Daya said holding the steering.
They decided a target destination and choose a not so busy road for racing. Both the cars were on the track.
"Okay guys, all set?"Tarika said.
"Yup!"Abhijeet and Daya exclaimed.
Both started the engine.
Tarika counted,"1...2...3...and...Go!"
As she said both the cars came into motion and soon got their speed.
Daya's car overtook Abhijeet in a blink. He whistled. Shreya smiled seeing his child-like excitement.
The next minute Abhijeet's car left Daya behind.
"Wohhooo!"He hooted to tease Daya.
Daya increased his speed and once again he was moving ahead. He shared a look with Shreya and both smiled.
Abhijeet came into action and again he was running ahead. "Come on Abhijeet!"Tarika was cheering for Abhijeet. Her curls could be seen bouncing in air because Abhijeet was almost flying his car in air. Tarika was enjoying the speed.
The game of overtaking each other was continued. Some times Daya being ahead and sometimes Abhijeet.
Here it was becoming uncomfortable for Shreya because whenever Daya was changing the gear, taking a turn or increasing his speed to overtake Abhijeet's car, she was crashing with him again and again. Their shoulders kept on brushing against each other. At a time she was almost on him. Being closer to him was giving her sparks but Daya was too lost in driving.
Suddenly Daya took a right turn and as the car inclined towards the turn Shreya fell on Daya besides having the seat belt on. Her head fell on his chest and her hair got stuck in one of Daya's buttons.
"Aahh!"She wailed in pain.
Daya couldn't understand what happened and he slowed down his speed.
Now Abhijeet easily overtook Daya but while crossing Daya's car he didn't miss the scene unfolding in front of his eyes, Shreya falling on Daya's chest, almost hugging him.
Abhijeet chuckled, "ye to gaya!"
Abhijeet was ahead. Tarika was screaming in joy and continuously cheering for Abhijeet.
Shreya was dying in embarrassment. Her mind almost stopped working being so close to his chest. Though Daya had lowered the speed but still Shreya was not feeling it easy to remove her hair stuck in his button. It seemed like his button was not ready to leave her hair. On top of that their bodies were crashing against each other. Shreya was close enough to feel his heart beating inside his chest. Daya breathed in and applied the brakes.
"Kya kar rahi ho Shreya?"He said.
Shreya blushed very badly at his question."Sir.. Kuch nahi...wo.."She started working with her fingers fast but in nervousness she was only worsening the mess. Her fingers were trembling now.
Daya stared at her lying on his chest. He smiled and held her hand. "Ek minute Shreya..."
Shreya felt tingles down her toe on his touch.
"Mujhe karne do!"Daya said softly and started removing her hair stuck in his button.
As his fingers moved in her hair Shreya felt her heart beating really fast.
Daya gently freed her hair but she didn't move away. She was immediately lost in his eyes as she looked at him.
Daya was also not in a mood to take his eyes off. He was watching her from so close and found she was a way prettier from close than she looks from distance.
"Sir hum haar jayenge!"Shreya whispered still looking into his eyes.
Daya blinked his eyes. "Who cares?"He started inclining towards her,"Main to already jeet chuka hu."
Before Shreya could understand what's happening, their lips fused together and Daya was kissing her. Shreya rounded her hands around his neck forgetting that they are in the car, on the road. She returned the kiss with equal love and willingness.
When they broke for air Shreya was shocked. She was not able to move. Her lips were turned red. She looked down.
Daya closed his eyes throwing his head behind on the headrest.
Shreya was smiling now. Daya looked at her. She unnecessarily tucked her hair behind her ears. "I am sorry. Meri wajeh se aap race haar gaye."
Daya was just staring at her.
Shreya looked at him and placed her hand on his cheek. "Aap mujhe baad me bhi dekh sakte hain. Abhi race puri karni hai. Chaliye!"
Daya sighed holding her hand,"ab to dil karta hai ye waqt yahi ruk jaye. Bhad me jaye race."
Shreya smiled."Haar to hum chuke hi hain at least haar ka margin kuch kam ho sake. Please, let's go!"
They shared an intense eyelock before Daya started the engine and grabbed the steering again.
When they reached at the destination Abhijeet and Tarika were waiting for them.
"Kaha reh gaye the bhai? Khargosh achanak se kachua kaise ban gaya?"Abhijeet said laughing.
Daya and Shreya came out of the car. Daya put his hands up. "Theek hai theek hai. Main haar gaya, tum jeet gaye. Tumhari car meri car se jyada achhi hai. I apologize from the depth of my heart for calling it 'khatara'."
Abhijeet frowned but Tarika and Shreya burst out laughing.
"Bhai ye koi apology nahi hui. Tum race haar gaye ho aur ab tum hum sabko treat doge."Abhijeet said, "Aaj to wallet khali karwa ke rahuga main."
"Okay!"Daya said helplessly.
Shreya turned to Abhijeet, "sir, Daya sir na jaan boojhkar haar gaye. Wo aapki bahut respect karte hain. Wo aapko kaise hara sakte hain. You are his boss!"She said with pure innocence.
"Ohh really!"Tarika exclaimed with slow claps.
"Bas karo Shreya!"Abhijeet said. "At least Daya ko sir bolna band karo. Hum sabko pata hai jo tum dono hum sab se aur ek dusre se bhi chupa rahe ho. Mujhe achhi terah se pata hai ki tum dono pure 10 minute peeche kyun aaye aur itni der tak tum dono kya kar rahe the. Daya ka to man bhi nahi raha hoga na race puri karne ka."He glanced at Daya with a mischievous grin who looked speechless.
Tarika turned to Daya, "Daya kahi Shreya ne tumhare samne ye condition to nahi rakhi thi ki jis din khud ke paas car aa jaye usi din mujhe kiss karna?"
"Nahi maine aisa kuch nahi kaha tha!" Shreya promptly spoke without thinking much.
Abhijeet tried hard to not laugh but couldn't help and burst out laughing.
Shreya bit her lips, "And...and w-we were n-not ki-kissing." She said exchanging a look with Daya.
"Shreya ek baat batao..." Abhijeet said, "Jab interrogation me insaan bolte bolte stammer karne lagta hai to uska kya matlab hota hai?"
"Matlab ki wo jhooth bol raha hai sir!" Shreya said and then realized why Abhijeet asked so.
Daya looked at Shreya shaking his head. "Shreya for God's sake ab aur kuch mat bolo please!"
Shreya looked down in embarrassment. Daya turned to Abhijeet, "Yes we were kissing, so what? Tumhe koi problem?"
Abhijeet and Tarika burst out laughing sharing a hi-five with each other.
"Thank you so much Shreya, Daya ko distract karne ke liye aur mujhe race jeetwane ke liye warna meri iss purani car ka Daya ki nayi car se kya muqabala!"Abhijeet said.
Shreya was totally red and looking down. Daya was standing with a helpless look on his face.
Abhijeet and Tarika were busy in laughing and pulling their leg.
Shreya moved near Daya, "I am so sorry. Aapki haar ke liye main responsible hu. Meri wajeh se aap distract huye. Agar main aapke sath nahi hoti to aap jaroor jeet jate."She said in a low voice.
Daya held her hand hiding it from Abhijeet and Tarika."Us jeet ka fayda bhi kya jisme tum sath na ho."He whispered making sure he is audible only to her.
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o-The End-o