CHAPTER 14

Shreya and daya were heading towards their room, when someone coming from opposite side collided with daya hitting his left shoulder which was already injured.

"Aaahhh" daya exclaimed holding his shoulder.

"I am so sorry" the man said.

"It's alright" daya excused him with a smile.

But shreya became conscious, she could see the rigidity on his face.

"You ok?" Shreya asked in concern.

"Yup" daya said blinking his eyes.

They entered their room. Daya sat on the bed and started removing his shoes. Shreya kept the shopping bags aside and sat on the bed.

"Ufff, thak gayi." She exclaimed taking a deep breath.

Daya looked at her and remembered the scene on reception occurred some minutes ago. He started smiling.

He leaned his head on the headrest, and glanced at her, "tum itna gussa kyun ho gayi thi reception pe, uska collar hi pakad liya tumne."

"Gussa karne wali baat jo kar tha wo. Kya main use bachhi lagti hu? Idiot, he should know that I am not a baby, I am 18 plus , I am an adult." Shreya said aggressively.

Daya nodded his head, "thank God tumne uske samne ye line nahi boli."

Shreya looked at him, "bol ke aau?"

Daya widened his eyes, "no please!" He said stopping her by his hands. He started laughing, "Oh God shreya, tum sach me bachhi ho, kuch bhi nahi samajhti tum?"

"Sab samajhti hu main? Lekin aapko itni hasi kyun aa rahi hai? Apne aap hi hase ja rahe hain." Shreya said glaring at him.

"Nahi kuch nahi" daya said controlling his laugh.

Shreya removed her sandals and sat on the bed properly beside daya. Suddenly she remembered something.

"Apna wallet dikhaiye!" She demanded forwarding her hand.

Daya narrowed his eyebrows, "kyun?"

"Dikhaiye na!" Shreya said with puppy eyes.

Daya took out his wallet and kept it in her hand, "ye lo".

Shreya grabbed the wallet and opened it, "hmm...mujhe to pata hi nahi tha ki aap apne wallet me meri picture rakhte hain, how sweet! Ye wahi photograph hai na jab maine pehli baar saree pehni thi, school ki farewell party ke liye? Lekin aapko ye photo kaha mili?"

Daya looked away trying to evade her question, "han, wo bas aise hi, lao wallet do?" He said trying to take his wallet but shreya refused him.

"Nahi, pehle mere sawal ka jawab?"

Daya gave up, "wo, ek din bas aise hi main, tumhari photo album dekh raha tha to mujhe ye photo mili, aur mujhe laga ki , wallet me rakhne ke liye ye best hai, isliye"

"Wallet me meri hi photo kyun?"

"To aur koi hai kya mera tumhare alawa?" Daya replied instantly looking at her making her silent.

Shreya was looking into his eyes with a cute smile. Daya looked away because her smile was intoxicating.

Shreya kept the wallet back in his hand. She was smiling all the while.

She remembered something, "hey, I have got something for you" she excitedly said and grabbed one of the shopping bags.

"What?" Daya asked.

Shreya took out a sky blue printed shirt. "Ye aapke liye liya maine? How's it?"

Daya made a face, "nice, but shreya, main printed shirts nahi pehanta. I prefer plane ones"

"Oh come on, it will suit you I know. Please mere liye ek baar pehan kar dikhaiye na!" Shreya requested cutely.

"Abhi? Shreya please mujhe bahut neend aa rahi hai" daya said showing no interest.

"Ye pehankar dikhaiye, phir so jaiye" shreya said putting the shirt in his hand.

Daya looked at her excitement and couldn't refuse again, "ok" he uttered finally.

Shreya smiled. She was staring at him.

"Tum aankhe band Karo?" Daya said hesitantly.

Shreya sighed, "arey mujhse kya sharmana, be a man! Come on"

"No way, main tumhare samne change nahi kar sakta, agar tum chahti ho ki main ye pehnu to aankhe band Karo and turn your face" daya said stubbornly.

Shreya sighed and closed her eyes turning her face.

Daya slowly removed his shirt, he had a slight pain in his shoulder. He grabbes the new shirt and while putting on, his shoulder ached and a low moan escaped from his mouth.

"Aahh"

Shreya heard it and immediately opened her eyes and turned to him, "kya hua?"

She saw daya's hand was stuck in the sleeve.

"Kuch nahi tum...

But before he finishes shreya moved to him, "kya kuch nahi? Aapke shoulder me dard hai aap bata nahi sakte? Dikhaiye mujhe main help karti hu." She started helping him. She made him wear the shirt and started doing his buttons.

She was standing close to him. Daya was obviously taller and her height was just up to his chest. Daya was lost in her. It is an amazing feeling when someone buttons up your shirt, and she is your beautiful wife.

Shreya finished the buttoning up and looked up at him. She smiled broadly after admiring his look for a second.

"Wow! Ye aap par bahut achhi lag rahi hai. Mujhe pata tha ye shirt sirf aapke liye bani hai. Aaj mujhe pata chala aap kitne handsome hain."

Daya smiled, "really? Tumhare man Ki shirt pehni to handsome aur waise kya lagta hu?"

"Waise bhi handsome hi lagte hain" she said without thinking. She blushed slightly as he looked into her eyes.

"Achha, ab aap yahi pehanke rahenge, ye purani shirt ko bye bye" shreya said grabbing his old shirt.

"Are, nahi shreya, mujhe change Karna hai, shirt wapas do?" He said rushing to her.

"No way" shreya said moving away.

"Shreya please!" Daya said running behind her and caught her hand.

"Chodiye" shreya said trying to free her hand.

Daya caught her both hands and tried to snatch the shirt but shreya was in no mood to give up. She tried to push him and during this war of tug they lost the balance and fell on the bed.

Shreya's breath almost stopped finding him completely on top of her. Suddenly everything changed. The laughter and giggles lost immediately and some sensuous feelings took their place. Both kept on looking into each other's eyes without blinking. Shreya was feeling a current throughout her body. His face was just few inches away from her. His warm breath was continuously touching her cheeks.

They both were still holding the shirt they were fighting for. Shreya loosened her grip and lowered her eyes. Now daya came out of the trance and realized his position. He tried to get up without touching her, putting an extra load on his injured shoulder.

"Aaah" he exclaimed moving aside holding his shoulder.

Shreya got up and looked at him, "I am sorry" she uttered in a low voice.

"Nahi, I am sorry, wo meri galti se... Main sambhal nahi paya khud ko aur.. I am really sorry!" Daya said avoiding any contact with her after that embarrassing incident.

Daya took out a massage lotion from his bag.

He removed his shirt and tried to apply the lotion because now the pain was almost unbearable. But he was facing a difficulty on massaging his own shoulder but he was hesitant to ask a help from shreya.

Shreya watched him and then moved to him. "Main kar deti hu" she said and took the lotion from his hand. Daya had no chance to refuse.

Shreya started massaging his shoulder with soft hands.

Daya just closed his eyes on her touch. It was so soothing and pleasurable, he immediately forgot his pain. He wanted to tell her that there is nothing softer in this whole world than her hands.

Shreya finished the massage, "if you don't mind, aap thodi der shirt na hi pehne to behtar hai. I mean wo lotion hai na, wo achhe se apna kaam karega."

Daya nodded and lie down on his another shoulder turning his back towards shreya.

Shreya went to her side of the bed, kept a pillow between them and lie down. She stole a glance at him and unknowingly blushed. Both drifted into sleep with a sweet smile curved on their lips.

The next morning they left the hotel, daya safely dropped shreya at her hostel.

As shreya reached Pragya and Simran together were waiting to pull her leg.

"Kya baat hai unhe tumhe manane me sari raat lag gayi?" Pragya said mischievously.

Shreya gave them their gifts and told the whole incident. "Ab hum kya karte? Watchmen ne gate kholne se saaf inkar kar diya, majboori thi, isliye hotel me rukna pada."

"Jhoothi, aapne jaanboojhkar unhe yaad nahi dilaya hoga ki hostel ka gate 9 baje band ho jata hai" Simran said chuckling.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai yaar, tum dono kuch jyada hi sochte ho?" Shreya said trying hard to not to blush in front of them.

Pragya came in front of her, "oh please shreya, humse kya chupana? Ab tum dono itne dino se ek dusre se mile nahi the to I can understand. Batao na kaisi rahi tum logo ki date?"

"Date?" Shreya laughed, "Pragya, bas hum dono ne shopping ki, movie dekhi dinner kiya aur bas...hotel jakar so gaye."

"Huhh...hotel jakar so gaye? Hume bewkoof samajh rakha hai kya?" Simran snapped.

"Matlab thodi bahut baate ki... aur wo sab bilkul nahi kiya jo tum dono soch rahe ho, idiots" shreya said hitting their heads.

"Suna Simran, itne dino baad apne pati se mili, thodi baate ki aur so gayi? Sachhi, unhone sone diya tha tumhe... han...?" Pragya said and started tickling her.

"Stop it Pragya..." Shreya said laughing uncontrollably.

The room got filled with their laughter. They played pillow fighting and fell on the bed holding their stomach.

Shreya was blushing thinking all that her friends were saying. She knew that nothing was true but everything was so cute.

2 years later.

Shreya was now in her final year of college. She had become mature and sensible and a way more beautiful, obviously. The girl with extreme cuteness had been changed into a lady with extreme beauty and class. These two-three years of an independent life had witnessed a total makeover of shreya. Her dressing style was changed, her body language was much confident now. The things which were still the same were her smile and the magic in her large hazel eyes.

Daya kept talking to her on phones and meeting on some random intervals.

Shreya had definitely developed some feelings for Daya, different from respect and admiration. But she had still not named it as love. Daya too never gave any such signal to her that he has some that kind of feelings for her. Whenever he called her he used to talk about her studies and college. He cared for her and was always concerned for her but only like a guardian. Actually the fault was that Daya's duty and shreya's college kept them busy, completely refraining them from living together and know each other better.

All they needed was something to happen which will make them to think about their relation to nurture it and the circumstances provided them such an opportunity.

Radha Masi was watching TV and she saw a news bulletin. She was scared and immediately called daya.

"Daya dekho ye TV pe kya news aa rahi hai. Shreya ke college ke bare me kuch dikha rahe hain. College me goliyan chal rahi hain? Bomb chal rahe hain? Ye ho kya raha hai?"

Daya became stunned after watching the news, "oh no!" He uttered shockingly holding his head.

"Kya hua daya? Kya ho raha hai ye sab?" Radha masi asked worriedly.

"Masi ye college ki student union aur waha ke administration ke beech ka koi jhagda hai. Administration unki demand nahi maan raha isliye wo violence pe utar aaye hain. Teaching bhi suspend hai. Upar se kuch political parties ne beech me aakar is matter ko aur bhadka diya hai. Main shreya se baat karta hu." Daya said and ran to call shreya.

"Hello Shreya, ye tumhare college me ho kya raha hai?" Daya asked as shreya came on the line.

"I don't know, what's going on. Administration ne students se conversation ki bajay unpe lathicharge karwaya, tear gas use kiya, ab students to bhadkenge hi na. Mujhe samajh me nahi aa raha main kya karu. Hostel me pack ho gaye hain hum sab, bahar hi nahi nikalne de rahe. Kal humare hostel ke paas bhi firing hui thi. I am scared." Shreya told.

Daya too became worried, "dekho shreya, tum apna khyal rakhna, kisi bhi sensitive place se door rehna, aur ye rallies aur protesters se door hi rehna, samjhi tum. Main kal hi tumhe lene aa raha hu" daya instructed shreya and cut the call.

"Beta, shreya theek to hai na?" Radha masi asked in concern.

"Ha masi wo theek hai, lekin aise mahaul me main use waha akela chodkar koi risk nahi le sakta. Main use kal hi wapas le aane ja raha hu. " daya said in a determined voice.

He reached Delhi, safely evacuated shreya from there and returned Mumbai.

"Pata nahi ye sab kab tak chalega. Teaching to band hi hai, kuch din me humare final exams hain, ab kya hoga?" Shreya said sadly.

"Kuch bhi ho jab tak situation under control nahi ho jati, aur sab kuch normal nahi ho jata, tum wapas nahi jaogi understand?" Daya said clearly.

Shreya was actually happy that she had got a chance to live with daya for sometime. She wanted never to go back. She was sure that it is going to take a long time for the situation to become normal.

She was unpacking her bags when she spotted her tennis racquet and ball kept on the table. She called Radha masi.

"Masi ye mera racquet bahar kyun rakha hai. Mere racquet se kaun khel raha tha?"

Radha masi gave her an awkward smile, "aur kaun khelega? Daya khel raha tha!"

"But kiske sath?" Shreya asked surprisingly.

"Apne dosto ke sath!" Radha masi told.

Shreya smiled, "kaun, abhijeet sir ya phir Aditi mam?"

Masi sighed, "beta, itne salo me bahut si cheeje badal gayi hain. Daya ke bhi kuch naye dost ban gaye hain. Koi ladki hai, nayi nayi join hui hai cid me, daya se bahut gehri dosti ho gayi hai. Usi ke sath khel raha tha wo, kamaal ka tennis khelti hai wo"

Shreya narrowed her eyebrows, "nayi officer? Dosti? But unhone to mujhe is bare me kuch bhi nahi bataya. Wo cid ke bare me har cheeje mujhse share karte hain. Kaun aaya, kaun gaya, mujhe sab pata hota hai? Phir is nayi officer ke bare me kyun kuch nahi bataya? Kya naam kya hai is nayi officer ka?"

Radha masi looked away, "beta naam mujhe yaad nahi aa raha?"

Shreya glared at her, "naam yaad nahi aa raha ya aap mujhe batana nahi chahti, koi baat nahi main, 'inspector Daya' se hi puch leti hu" she said and rushed towards bathroom where daya was enjoying a shower.

She knocked the door, "koi nayi officer join hui hai? Aapne mujhe bataya kyun nahi?"

"Shreya, main batane hi wala tha, time nahi mila. Don't worry, ab tum yahi ho to mil lena usse!" Daya spoke from inside.

"Naam kya hai uska?" Shreya asked. Daya was about to say something when his phone kept on the table started ringing. Shreya moved and grabbed his cell.

Shreya looked at the caller ID, "Lavanya?"

Shreya turned to Radha masi, "Kya yahi hai wo nayi officer?"

Masi nodded her head in yes.

Shreya was about to say something when a girl entered the house calling daya's name.

"Daya... Daya where are you?"

Hearing her voice daya immediately came out of the bathroom in towel only.

"Lavanya tum yaha?"

Shreya was shockingly staring at the girl.

"Daya, main kabse tumhara phone try kar rahi hu, kaha the tum?" Lavanya said coming near him.

"Oh sorry, main bathroom me tha!" Daya said.

"Mujhe tumse bahut jaroori baat karne hai, come" lavanya said holding daya's hand and took him inside the room and closed the door leaving shreya and Radha masi outside, shocked.

Shreya came out of the shock and turned to masi, "ye chalta firta makeup kit, ye hai wo nayi officer?"

"Han, lagta hai kuch important baat chal rahi hai andar" masi said glancing at shreya. She saw her jealous and decided to add some fuel to the fire, "lekin aisi bhi kya jaroori baat hai jo darwaja band kar liya, daya ko andar le jakar. Kafi tej ladki hai."

Shreya frowned at her comment, "I see, to isliye unhe time nahi milte tha mujhse baat karne ka. Nayi officer join hui aur mujhe bataya bhi nahi. Mere tennis racquet se kisi aur ke sath tennis khelne ki himmat bhi kaise hui? Darwaja khulne do, phir dekhti hu" she said gritting her teeth.

Masi giggled seeing her jealousy. While shreya was staring at the closed door like a hungry tigress watches her prey.

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...To be continued

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A/N: so would this jealousy factor work to make shreya realize her true feelings for daya?