Chapter-2.

After talking with him, she became more restless. She looked at the watch, it was 6:00. She kept pacing To and Fro like a Pendulum in her room. The Twilight made the atmosphere beautiful. She didn't bother to light up the room. She was just rehearsing the lines she would say when he would come.

It's the most difficult thing on earth, isn't it? To tell your Best Friend that you consider him/her more than a Friend. To confess your love to your Best Friend. The fear of losing the most precious bond, the fear of losing the Friendship always hovers; more than the fear of losing your love.

There's a peculiar problem in Love too. Until you confess your feelings to that someone special, there's a Sweet Heartache that you always feel; But, as soon as you think to convey your deepest and hidden feelings, a Strange Fear comes and sits on your head. That isn't the Fear of Rejection, in case you love your Best Friend. But, it's the Fear of Losing Friendship.

Friendship: indeed one of the utmost important relations on the Earth. Friends are the Family which ain't bounded by the Kinship, rather they are the Family which Human chooses by himself.

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.

That's why she decided to seal her lips, she decided to remain silent and she didn't even tell that she Liked and Admired him. Though she wasn't of the opinion that Guys should always take the First Step, she couldn't make it, all for the Friendship.

But when does the heart listens to someone?

Dil ka kehna hum sab maane dil na kisi ki maane

Jaan di humne jaan gaye sab

Ek woh hi naa jaane.

She kept dropping Hints to him, but as most of the studies suggested; Men really don't understand all this.

The Sharp Shine of CID Mumbai too, failed here.

The doorbell buzzes and she looks at the clock. It's 7. She hit her head that how deeper she'd been diving into the Ocean of her Thoughts that she totally forgot about the Time.

Buzz… Buzz… The doorbell rang for the second time. She ran downstairs fast. As soon as she opened the door, she wanted to Hug him Tight. Somehow she managed to stand straight.

He asked: Tarika, are you alright? Kuch hua hai kya?

And he pulled out his Gun from the usual place.

Andhera kyu hai ghar mein?

Before she could even compile her answer, he kept his palm on her cheek and asked worriedly again: Tarika, theek to ho tum? Kuch hua hai kya? Koi hai kya andar?

And she stood frozen. She kept on staring at him. She kept on drowning deeper in those shiny Black Eyes. The sound of Fingers snaps led her back to the Senses.

Abhijeet: Kuch bologi?

And she hastily covered up with: Aap chup rahenge tab kuch bolungina?

Salunkhe Sir theek kehte hain, aate hi Arjun ki tarah sawalon ke teer chalana shuru kar dete ho.

Abhijeet gave her a glance and she continued further with: Sorry… Aray wo main upar apne room meinthi na to dhyan hi nahi gaya.

It's okay, he uttered.

Aur bataiye Tarika Ji kya kar rahi thi aap, half day lekar? Sar Dard theek hua ya hum Adrak Wali Chai peene chalein bahar?

{And there he's back in the form ;)}

Sar dard pehle hi theek ho chuka hai Abhijeet Sir ;).

And he got irked, immediately she said: Ab aap andar bhi aayenge ya wahi khade rehne ka irada hai? Please come inside. She said with her ever pleasing and charming smile.

This was it. This was the same smile which made him feel different about her. No, that wasn't love which he felt. It was just, something very different, offbeat. An Exclusive Feeling; that he wasn't aware of what is it?

So he didn't paid much attention to this feeling and accepted it as True Friendship.

But one thing he knew for sure, that it gives him immense pleasure to see her smiling. He wanted to see her happy, always.

She led the way and he followed her to the Sofa. He made himself comfortable. She went inside and bring him a Glass of Water. He drank it all in one go and gasped a deep breath. Maybe he haven't even had a single sip of water from a couple of minutes. He felt relaxed.

Haa ab batao Tarika?

Kuch nahi bas aisi, thoda rest kiya. Fir bore hone lagi..toh…

Toh aaj kaun si new research study sunnane wali ho?

Ummm… aaj koi research paper nahi padha. Par ek bahut Interesting Game dhundha hai.

Interesting Game…oh, I see.

Interesting, very interesting.

Toh naam kya hai tumhare iss Interseting Game ka ?

Yes!, she happily jumped off the Sofa, screaming; as soon as she heard his consent. He really loved those babyish antics of her. He found them Cute. This was a secretive trait of her personality, which she rarely used to show; Or, the child inside her used to come out only when he was around?

He used to ponder over her amazing personality. He was startled; such a perfect blend she was of Maturity and Juvenility.

Chalo uparchaltehain. Her voice broke his hypnotism.

Kyu tum toh kisi Game ki baat kar rahi thi na?

Haa, usski ke liye keh rahi hoon.

I mean Game Laptop mein hai.

Okay, chalo.

Aap chaliye, main bas 2 minute mein aati hoon.

Ab kaha jaa rahi ho?

Aray please aap chalo na, main bas aayi.

Theek hai.

He went inside her bedroom and turned on the lights. As soon as those dim cream colored lights spread over the Olive and Grey painted - block printed walls, beautifully architectured and decoratively designed room; an entirely different shadow filled that room. Abhijeet always loved that unusual ambiance of her room. Indeed it was unique, like her.

Meanwhile, Tarika came upstairs with a tray in her hand. There were 2 coffee mugs along with a plate filled with Choco Chip Cookies. She saw him still standing, near to the edge of the bed; with his back facing her.

Aray abhi tak khade kyu ho?

He turned towards the source of voice and stood agaze. How well she understands him, how well she know that he desperately needs a Cup of Coffee.

How?

But he knew that there's no use of asking this question again. If he did, he would be getting a patent reply. He sighed.

Tarika wearing a Panthomath Smile came inside, handed over the coffee mug to him; and placed the Tray on the side table in situ of the Bed. She forwarded her hand as a gesture to tell him to sit down. He picked a pillow, placed it vertically by the support of the headrest; and sat down in a relaxing manner with one folded leg on the bed and the other at the floor.

Slowly sipping the coffee he asked: So, tell me about the Game?

Tarika replied: THE SHARING GAME.

Abhijeet surprisingly looked at her face again.

Tarika continued: Itna hairan mat hoiye, sab samjhati hoon. It's a very simple Psychological Game which consists of a few questions which needed to be honestly answered. I want to analyze this Game's result for a Research.

Abhijeet looked at her with scared eyes.

Ghabrane ki zarurat nahi hai, koi zyada personal sawal nahi honge. Aur aisa bhi nahi hai ki jawab sirf aapko dene pade. We can do it in 3 ways:

1. Saare sawalon ke pehle aap jawab denge fir main.

2. Ek sawal aapke liye aur agla mere liye. And,

3. Hum saare sawalon ko 2 sets mein divide kar sakte hain. Ek mera and ek set aapka.

Achha, to main aapka research subject hoon. Ye baat hai, theek hai, Yahi sahi. J

To kis tarique se karna hai?

Abhijeet looked at his watch; kitne sawal hain aur kitna time lagega?

Kuch zyada sawal nahi hai aur time taqreeban 90 minute. Aur wo waise bhi waqt iss baat par nirbhar karta hai ki hum "SAHI" jawab dene mein kitna waqt lagate hain. Iss khel ka sirf ek hi niyam hai aur wo yeh ki aapko poori imaandari aur sachhai se jawab dene hain.

To aap mera NARCO Test le rahi hain Dr. Tarika?

Ab aap yahi samjh lijiye Sr. Inspector Abhijeet. ;)

So, in which of the above-stated ways; would you prefer to play it?

Ummm… I would like to go with option 2.

Are you sure, lock kiya jaye?

Ji Sir J

Okay, so the Game is On.