Tere Mere Dil
...Few more days passed with Abhijeet and Tarika being busy with their respective works. They talked but only usual hi and hellos. Abhijeet was really hurt by Tarika's decision and Tarika was guilt for using him like that. She really wanted to take their relationship slow. She wanted to loved him as deep as he did. She wanted to match his passion, his devotion. She knew she could do that after marriage too but she also acknowledged that Abhijeet never wanted it that way. Tarika wished she knew how to sort that out but everything looked so complicated to her.
Abhijeet entered into his cabin after finishing the board meeting in his conference room and found Daya waiting for him.
"Arey Daya.. Tum iswaqt yaha?" Abhijeet asked taking his chair.
"Hi.. Khatam meeting?"
"For a while. Lucknow se kab ain?"
"Bas subha hi. Aur phir atehi main yesab ka sun raha hu yaar? Aur Tumne mujhe bataya bhi nahi kuch."
"Tum important case ke liye gai huye the na yaar. Isliye bas. Ab Uncle thik hain. Infact aj toh wo village bhi chale gai."
"Village kyu jane diya!"
"Unhe ab aur acha nahi lag raha tha. Thore din mein ajainge wapas. Appointment bhi hain unka next week "
"Acha... aur engagement hone wali hain tumhari? " Daya asked suspiciously.
"Umm.. Haan.. matlab... hone toh wali hain. Fix nahi hua abhitaq kuch."
"Media wale ne toh tahelka macha ke rakha hain."
"Unka toh roz ka hi hain. Tu bata, tu etna low kyu sound kar raha hain?" Abhijeet asked.
"Wo bas..." Daya paused.
"Baat kya hain Daya? Sab thik hain na?"
"Abhijeet, Dad meri shadi karwana chahte hain."
"Haan toh kar le..."
"Apni kisi dost ki beti ke sath.. joki ek lawyer hain."
"Acha?" Abhijeet laughed, "Weisey sahi bhi hain.. ghar pe sab lawyer. Agar teri biwi kisi dusri profession se ho toh usse bohot problem hogi. Etne section ke tahet apko ye saja sunayi jati hain.." Abhijeet mimicked liked a judge.
"Abhijeet I am serious."
"Acha sorry. Batao, problem kya hain? Larki pasand nahi ayi?"
"Mujhe larki se milna hi nahi hain! Mujhe lawyer se shadi nahi karni."
"Arey aise keisey! Milna toh parega! Bhul gaya tune mujhe keisey samjhaya tha ki main Tarika se ek baar mil lu. Aur phir dekh aj ham kaha pe hain. Agar teri kismat bhi is larki se juri hui ho toh?"
"Abhijeet I like someone." Daya said, out of frustration.
"What? Kaun?" Abhijeet was hell shocked.
"It doesn't matter."
"Of course it matters Daya. Aur tujhe koi etni pasand kab agayi? Why don't I know?"
"We are not in relationship Abhijeet. Its just I Like her. Par wo.. wo iswaqt shadi nahi kar skati mujhse. She needs time."
"Wo tujhe pasand karti hain?"
"Umm.. sayad.. I mean haan karti hi hogi. Usne aisa toh nahi kaha kabhi ki she doesn't like me."
"Teri love story toh mujhse bhi jayada complicated nikli yaar!" Abhijeet joked.
"Abhijeet, please mere mom se baat karoge?"
"Main kya baat karu unse??"
"Kuch bhi. Par unhe convince karo ki mujhe thora time de."
"Tu pagal hain. Tu lawyer ho ke judge saheba ko convince nahi kar pa raha aur main??"
"Please."
"Wo mujhse reason puchingi toh main kya batau?"
"Yahi ki mujhe koi aur pasand hain."
"Phir wo us larki ke bare mein puchengi. Aur tu khud kyu nahi kehta unhe?"
"Meri baat nahi sun rahi wo isliye tumse keh raha hu. Aur larki ke barein mein puchengi toh bata dena kuch bhi."
"Kuch bhi kya batau? Tu pehle mujhe larki ke bare mein bata."
"Don't act like my mom Abhijeet."
"Nahi nahi nahi.. pehle tu bata."
Daya's phone rang. He attended the call. It was form his farm.
"I need to leave. But please mom se ekbar baat karna."
"Not until you tell me about the girl."
"Okay.. I will tell you soon. Free ho aj sham?"
"Haan.. 8 baje ke baad aj free hi hu."
"Let's grab a drink together."
"Sure."
Daya left.
Abhijeet also get prepared for the next meeting.
It was. 8.25 when he finished the last meeting of the day. He was exhausted but be needed to know about the girl Daya was in love. He called Sarah in his cabin and gave her instruction about his next day's schedules.
"Tum thik ho?" Abhijeet asked his assistant.
"Yes sir."
"You look off."
"Just a bit stressed."
"Me and Daya going out for drink. Do you wanna join?"
"No sir Thanks. I need to take mom to the hospital."
"Is she fine?"
"Yeah. Just regular checkups "
"At night?"
"I was busy whole day." Sarah looked down.
"You could have told me."
"Its okay sir. It's not a big deal."
"Okay fine. My driver will accompany you."
"Thank you sir."
Sarah was playing with her fingers, looking down.
"What is it Sarah? Kuch kehna hain tumhe?"
"Sir Actually... mujhe apse Daya sir ke bare mein kuch baat karna hain."
"Daya?"
"Ji."
"Haan bolo..."
Sarah looked here and there. Abhijeet was getting impatient.
"Sarah?"
"Sir... ap.. ap unhe samjhaiye ki wo apne parents ki marji se shadi kar le." Sarah said looking down.
"Tumhe keisey pata ye baat? Aur ye kyu chahti ho ki wo shadi kar le?" Abhijeet asked suspiciously.
"Unke parents unke liye best decision hi lenge na sir."
"Tum.." Abhijeet paused, "Did Daya propose you?" Abhijeet was shocked.
Sarah looked away.
"He loves you? Omg! You two were having this behind my back and I didn't even know!" Abhijeet was surprised.
"Not love sir. Aur aisa kuch nahi hain. Mujhe bhi nahi pata tha ki wo mujhe like karte hain.. matlab etna like ki mujhse shadi karna chahte hain."
"Tumhe Daya pasand nahi?" Abhijeet asked, keeping his amusement away.
"Wo ache hain sir. Par apko toh pata hi hain ki.. "
"Ki?"
"Sir mujhpe meri mom ki jimedari hain. Main... main abhi shadi nahi karna chahti bas..."
Meanwhile Daya entered.
"Abhijeet chalein?" He stopped looking at Sarah. "Sarah bhi arahi hain sath?"
Abhijeet looked at Daya and then Sarah. Daya within a moment understood Abhijeet knew. He gave a helpless look to Sarah.
Before Abhijeet could start his lecture his phone rang.
"Haan Tarika bolo."
"Abhijeet kaha ho tum?"
"Office mein. Kyu kya hua? Sab thik toh hain na? Tumne iswaqt phone kiya?"
"Tumhara meetings khatam na ajka? Toh tum abhitaq ai nahi apna apartment?"
"Tum mere apartment mein ho?" Abhijeet got second, no third shock of the day.
"Nahi.. main toh parking mein. Tumhare floor pe gayi thi but password mujhe pata nahi. Aur corridor pe khara rehna acha nahi lag raha tha."
"Parking mein khara rehna acha lag raha hain?" Abhijeet was angry.
"Nahi.. acha nahi lag raha isliye phone kiya na. I wanted to surprise you... but..."
"Kis khushi mein surprise?"
"Abhijeet tum arahe ho ya nahi?" Tarika asked
"Tum ghar jao. Mujhe thora kam hain."
"Par Sarah ne toh bataya tha ki tum free ho 8 baje ke baad."
This made Abhijeet to look at Sarah. Both Daya and Sarah were trying to avoid each others eyes. Abhijeet got a feeling that they hadn't talked about the issue properly. He decided to let them talk with each other first.
"Umm.. Haaan.. main araha hu. Par tum pehle parking se hato. Main tumhe password message karta hu. Tum apartment ke ander wait karo. par kisi ke liye door maat kholna. "
"Okay. Come first."
"Hmm.. bye."
Abhijeet cut the call and turned his attention to the couple.
"Daya, Sarah apne maa ko lekar hospital ja rahi hain.. kuch tests karwane hain. Tum uske sath jaoge please?"
Daya looked at Sarah.
"Sarah tum Daya ke sath chali jao?" Abhijeet said to Sarah.
Sarah nodded slowly. Abhijeet was happy that he didn't have to work hard to convince them.
Abhijeet entered his apartment and found Tarika sitting there on sofa waiting for him. She was wearing jeans and short kurta. Her hair was tied in a pony tail. Abhijeet could tell by her appearance she had returned from her evening shift. Nevertheless he didn't miss the small back pack with her.
Is she moving in with me? The first thought occured in his mind which he dismissed immediately with a chuckle. And also the bag was very small.
Is she staying the night? He felt butterflies in his stomach with the thought. Though deep down he knew its only his imaginations and nothing like that gonna happen any time soon.
Here, seeing Abhijeet Tarika stood up.
"Etna late ho gaya tumhe ane mein?" She asked.
Abhijeet could feel the slight fear in her voice.
"Wo bas... last moment pe kuch sort out karna par gaya. I am sorry you have to go through all this trouble."
"Nahi nahi.. its fine. Main hi toh pagalo ke tarah tumhe bina batai agayi. Mujhe laga tumhare servants honge... toh bas chali ayi "
"Kal Sunday hain. Weekend pe unki cchutti rehti hain. Tum Sarah se password le sakti thi."
"Mera... mere dimag mein hi nahi aya." Tarika gave him a nervous smile.
"Tum chaho toh main tumhe tumhare apartment taq cchor sakta hu." Abhijeet said.
"Kya? Kyun? Mera matlab hain... tumhe aisa kyu laga main jana chahti hu?"
"Its only two of us.. ye janne ke bad tum nervous ho gayi bas isliye keh raha tha."
"Nahi.. aisa nahi hain. Pehle bhi toh reh chuki hu na main."
"You were knocked out after drink." Abhijeet reminded her.
"Wo toh.. okay, agar tum nahi chahte toh main chali jati hu." Tarika hanged her bag on her shoulder.
"Etna bara bag leke kyu ayi ho?"
"Nahi ab toh ja rahi hu." Tarika said stubbornly.
Abhijeet gently held her right shoulder with his left hand and hanged down the bag from her shoulder. He place the bag on sofa and made decent space between them once again.
"Tarika baat kya hain?"
"I wanted to spend the weekend with you."
"What?" Abhijeet was surprised.
"Mere apartment mein?"
"Tumhe koi problem hain?"
"Mujhe koi problem nahi hain par tumhare gharwalo ko pata chalega toh tufaan ajiaga. Aur mujhe koi problem nahi chahiye."
"Maine baba ko bola hain."
"Ki tum mere sath raat guzarne wali ho?"
"Chii Abhijeet. Don't make it sound so vulgar."
Abhijeet gave her a oh-really look.
"Dekho.. maine baba se kaha hai ki tum bohot disturb ho and we need to short some things out. Aisa weisa kuch nahi. Main tumse milne ayi hu.. bas yahi bataya "
"Tumhare uncle? "
"I dont care. Abhijeet I trust you."
"Baat trust ki nahi Hain Tarika.. its just already media mein etna hangama macha hua hain. Tumhe yaha istarah nahi ana chahiye tha "
"Abhijeet,' Tarika looked down, "tum etne disturb ho hamare sagai ko lekar. Sagai ka toh date bhi fix ho gaya hain almost. Bas announce karna baki hain. Maine bohot koshish ki taki tumhare ye disturbance kam kar saku.. mujhe kuch sujh hi nahi raha tha... " she looked up at him, "main tumhe keisey yakeen dilau ki, I am happy to have you in my life?"
Abhijeet looked at her for a while, trying to read the emotions behind her words. When he spoke his voice was softer than before.
"You should change. Night wears layi ho sath?"
Tarika looked at him amazed and then nodded slowly.
"Get changed. Main bhi fresh ho jata hu."
Tarika went to the room previously shown by Abhijeet and Abhijeet moved to his room.
Abhijeet came out late. He found Tarika in kitchen preparing maggie.
"Mujhe bohot bhuk lagi hain. Tumhe?" She asked.
"Tumhe khana banana nahi ata?" Abhijeet asked her amazed.
"Haha.. nahi nahi... ata hain. Matlab sab nahi.. thora bohot bas. Par pata nahi tumhe pasand aiga ya nahi. You don't like noodles?"
"I am fine with it."
They had their boiled noodles.
"I will do the dishes." Abhijeet said.
"You will?" Tarika was impressed.
"Yeah. You cooked, I will clean."
"That's very nice of you."
Abhijeet gave a small smile and started washing the bowls.
"I wish you could cook! Mera kam thora kam jata shadi ke baad." Tarika said leaning against the counter.
Abhijeet turned to face her.
"Shadi ke bad ham sath mein cooking kar lenge... dono sath mein sikh lenge."
"Iska matlab tumhe shadi karna hain mujhse? " Tarika asked.
Abhijeet was trapped. So she had involved him in this topic very cleverly. He sighed.
"Maine kab kaha ki mujhe tumse shadi nahi karna?"
"Phir etna sochna kis baat pe?" She asked with a feeble voice.
Abhijeet looked away
"Koi movie dekhe?" He asked her, changing the topic.
Tarika kept looking at him. Abhijeet felt awkward.
"Main select karta hu movie tum ajao." Abhijeet left the kitchen.
While Abhijeet was setting the film in his mini theater Tarika went to her room.
When Abhijeet was done with the set up he came out to find Tarika. To his suprise he found her sitting on a stool at her personal bar.
"Tum yaha kya kar raho ho? You are not drinking, c'mon chalo. I cant take that stress of undressing you if you vomit again."
"I am wearing Tank top underneath my T shirt. It wont be a problem." Tarika smiled.
"Are you Serious?? Main to majak mein keh raha tha." Abhijeet was confused.
Tarika forwarded a bottle of vodka to Abhijeet.
"I want to drink Vodka with you."
"I wish you are not drunk already!" Abhijeet gulped. "Ye kaha se mila tumhe?"
"I arranged. What say? Shall we start." Tarika pour Vodka in two glasses and placed one in front of him. Abhijeet chuckled at her inexperienced service.
"Tarika you don't have to do this." He said with a smile.
"I have to Abhijeet." Tarika stood up and faced him. " Otherwise I dont know how to make you believe."
"I do believe. You dont have to proof anything."
"Still I want to get drunk with you."
"Tarika... I can't. Sorry."
"Why?"
"I don't know how I would react with you after the shots. Please don't force me."
"I trust you."
"But I dont trust myself enough! Not when I am drunk."
"Tumhe dar kis baat ka lag raha hain? Ki tum nashe mein kuch aisa bol doge jo tumhe nahi bolna chahiye?"
"Tarika.. listen. I have a better idea. Why don't you drink and I will sit here. Yeah, i think that's a good idea."
"Tumne meri baat ko palat diya."
"Tarika... " He said helplessly, "Yeah, you are right. Mujhe dar hain main kahi ulta sidha na bol du. Aur ulta sidha na kar du. Its a terrible idea Tarika."
Tarika stayed quite.
"Tarika... "
"Tum piyo.. na piyo main toh piyungi." Tarika said stubbornly.
"What?"
"Ji."
"Okay. Go on. That sounds better to me too."
"Tum shadi ke baad piyoge?"
"Ofcourse." Abhijeet smiled, "Its just I dont want our first kiss to happen when we are drunk."
"What? You think I will kiss you when I am drunk?"
"I think I will kiss you when I am drunk."
There's a moment of silence. Both of them had an eye lock. Abhijeet was the one looking away first.
"Let's get you drunk." He said moving near the counter.
Tarika was playing with the glass kept infront of her. Abhijeet stopped in his trance and took a deep sigh. Its never been so hard with any other girls. Though he loved this feeling with Tarika he wished he could be more confident while voicing his desires. But its now or never type moment. He couldn't just spend the whole night suppressing his desire. Not in his wildest dream he would let his desire get satisfied with her not in full sense and at the same time he knew it would be hell tough. May be he would end up cheating on his own desires. No, he can't let that happen. He didn't want any guilt to take place in their relationship. He sighed again, gathering his all courage he said,
"Tarika, can we have a kiss before you start drinking?" He wasn't looking at her. He didn't have the gut. He couldn't see the disappointment on her face. And suddenly he realized he shouldn't have said that. He could control himself. It wasn't a big deal. But he was done.
With great courage he looked at Tarika.
AN' sorry but not sorry for another cliff hanger! Haha.. stay tuned and keep reviewing.