Next day morning
Teena helps Purvi with her morning routine.
Kavin: Good morning Teena…..How are you feeling Purvi..if you donot mind shall I take a look at your feet.
Purvi nods and Kavin proceeds to remove the bandage and examine her foot. She watches his face and the concern on it.
Purvi: It still pains….kuch serious toh nahi hai naa?
Kavin (pressing her ankle): hmmm….ek x-ray kar lenge toh acha rahega..i suspect a muscle tear…Teena will you take her to the hospital? I have my shift now. I shall drop you girls there.
Kavin and Teena both help Purvi to get inside the elevator and then the car. Kavin looks at Purvi while driving, she appears very nervous and is biting her nails.
Kavin (smile): Purvi…whats the matter…tum itni darri huyi kyun ho?
Purvi: agar fracture hua toh? Mere padhaai ka kya hoga?
Kavin (laugh): tumhe padhaai ki padi hai? Zyaada tar log yeh sochte hai ki fracture hua toh who kaam kaise karenge? Unki dekhbaal kaun karega?
Purvi (tensed): arre haan…kaise hoga sab…Oh god !
Kavin: dekhbaal ki chinta mat karna..main hoon naa…
PurviF: Mera Betuuu…tera bukhaar theekh hone tak main ghar se bahar bhi nahi jaoonga..yehi rahoonga..
Teena: Heloooo…main bhi hoon…yaa ab tum dono ko meri koi zaroorat nahi hai..
Kavin: Oh no Teena..zaroorat kaise nahi hai…ghar ka kaam karnewaali toh sabse important hoti hai..
Teena: what? Hmpppfff..I hate you Kavin…
Kavin: No seriously…tum bahut important ho..agar tumne Purvi ki madat naa ki hoti toh hum kaise milte bolo?
Purvi: haan sahi kaha….Teena thanks for everything…
Teena: shut up! I love you both…she side hugs Purvi and Kavin.
They all reach the hospital. Teena takes Purvi to the clinic and Kavin goes to attend his shift. They are waiting for the doctor's call when Teena gets a call on her phone.
5 min later she comes back to Purvi with tense look.
Purvi: Kya hua Teena? All good?
Teena (tensed): No Purvi..it was my mom..my dad is unwell and she needs my help there…I need to go to New York today…
Purvi (holding her hands): don't worry..evrything will be fine…you need to go and pack..what about your tickets?
Teena: I will book them on my way to home now…it breaks my heart to leave you like this..but…
Purvi (smile): Teena…I will be fine…you better go now…
Teena calls up Kavin and explains everything. Kavin comes to be with Purvi.
Purvi: Kavin ….tumhari shift?
Kavin: Don't worry…my friend is covering for me.
The doctor then checks Purvi's x-ray…
Doctor: Looks like a sprained muscle only…2-3 days of rest without stressing on your ankle will do the trick..no walking, no hopping for you young lady..she is fine otherwise..
Kavin: Thank you doctor
He helps Purvi step out slowly and then takes her home. Teena is with Purvi till evening and then leaves for her flight.
After Teena leaves, Purvi is tensed sitting on the sofa
Kavin: relax Purvi..its just a sprain…2-3 days stay in the bed…main hoon naa..arre kya baat hai?
Purvi (tensed): Lekin…hum dono akele…kaise? Teena bhi nahi hai..
Kavin (realizing): I understand..tumhe..tumhe awkward lagega…umm…kya main Priti ko bulaoon hamare saath rehne?
He goes to his room trying to call Priti with whom Purvi will be comfortable.
Purvi is thinking all alone
Purvi (mind): Main aise kyun behave kar rahi hoon..itne dino se Kavin aur main ek hi ghar me toh rehte hai… ab kiss baat ka darr hai mujhe..kya mujhe Kavin pe vishwaas nahi hai? He has been always sweet with me….
She gets up gently and picks her crutch and walks to Kavin's room. She knocks the door, Kavin opens it still one phone.
Kavin: sorry Purvi…Priti out of town gayi hai..tum chaho toh main mere kisi friend ko boloon..tum unhe jaanti nahi ho magar friendship karne me kitna time jaayega..he picks his phone again..
Purvi: Kavin….its okay…kisiko bhi call karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai..
Kavin: what?
Purvi (smiles): Mujhe tumpe poora vishwaas hai Kavin…you have been so nice to me..main tumhe insult nahi karna chahti…
Kavin: Thanks Purvi…mujhpe itna trust karke tumne mujhe itni izzat di…acha bolo...kya khaoogi?
Purvi: tumhare haath ka kuch bhi..infact main bhi madat karti hoon tumhari…main vegetables chop karti hoon.
Kavin hands her the various vegetable to be chopped. She sits on a chair after placing her foot on a stool. She is chopping the peppers, when he comes behind her.
Kavin: aise nahi..inhe aur baarik kaatna hai….Purvi cuts even thinner slices.
Purvi: aise?
Kavin gives up and comes behind her and holds her hand and they both chop together.
Kavin (talking close to her ear): aise kaatte hai peppers ko….
Purvi's heart gallops on hearing his chocolate like voice in her ears. She tightens her hold on the knife, his cheek is extremely close to hers and his scent is driving her wild ! Color creeps in her cheeks and Kavin feels her palm is sweaty.
Purvi: Kavin..mujhe mujhe paani chahiye..
Kavin gets some water, he notices her hands are shaking a bit.
Kavin: are you okay Purvi? Tumhe thandi lag rahi hai kya?
Purvi (stammer): No..NO…bas aise hi..
Kavin: Tum TV dekho…main soup banata hoon tab tak..
Kavin takes some vegetables and prepares a homely soup for her. He takes a bowl full of soup and makes her taste it, gently blowing so that its not too hot for her.
Kavin: you like it?
Purvi: Babuuu aise hi mere liye soup banaate the jab mujhe fever ho jaata tha….kabhi kabhi toh who tasty soup peene ke liye main pet dard ka bahaana banaati thi..
Kavin: Yeh soup ki recipe mere dad ki hai…every Friday evening Dad kitchen me hum sab ke liye khaana banaate…4 course dinner – soup, appetizer, main course aur dessert !
Purvi: Tumne kabhi apni family ke baare me baat nahi ki…main tumhare family ke baare me sunna chahti hoon…agar tumhe koi aitraaz nahi ho toh
Kavin (feeding her soup): yeh kya…tumhe story sunni hai toh koi movie dekhte hai…meri story me kya rakha hai..bahut boring hai…he gets up to go..she holds his hand.
Purvi: Kyun bhaag rahe ho? Baitho mere paas…he sits down. She takes the soup bowl from his hand and feeds him with the same spoon.
Kavin: Kya bataoo tumhe Purvi…..maine bataya naa mere Papa 5 star hotel me chef the..Mom call centre me kaam karti thi…dono ki love marriage thi…they were the perfect couple..always in love..its a perfect family..main, papa aur Mom..
Purvi (smile): wow…kahan rehte hai tumhare parents?
Kavin: India me…mom Mumbai me aur Papa Delhi me..
Purvi: Aisa kyun?
Kavin (sad look): They are separated Purvi…
Purvi (sad): Ohh…I…I am sorry Kavin….kab hua yeh?
Kavin: My 15th birthday! He remembers that day…everything was perfect that day…Papa ne mera favorite Chocolate truffle cake bake kiya tha…dinner bhi ready tha..hum logon ne khoob enjoy kiya. I was.. I was so happy and blessed..I had the perfect parents..
Flashback
Kavin: Mom , Dad where is my gift…I am 15 now..main bada ho gaya hoon..please mujhe bacho waali koi gift mat dena aap..
His parents look at each other and hand him a package.
Kavin (excited): wow…kya hai isme? Yeh toh papers hai…
KavinM: yeh hamare legal separation ke papers hai Kavin…we are getting divorced !
Kavin (shock): What? Come on..its my bday today..please aisa ganda mazaak mat kijiye…
KavinF: we are sorry son..but jaisa tumne kaha tum bade ho gaye ho aur hame lagta hai this is the perfect time to tell you the truth..
Kavin (tears, pleading): BUT WHY? Aap dono..aap dono ek doosre se kitna pyaar karte ho…you guys are just perfect..mere saare friends kehte hai…Kavin…you are lucky..you have such wonderful parents…toh phir kyun?
KavinM: yes…yes we are..we love you Kavin…but we have stopped loving each other a long time back..
Kavin (confused): Kya matlab?
KavinM: Kavin….hum dono toh shaadi hi nahi karne waale the….we compromised…because I got pregnant with you before marriage…your dad married me…humne socha shayad hum shaadi ke baad pyaar karenge…but it wasn't meant to be..
KavinF: Itne saal we were together only for you..but Kavin..hamari apni zindagi bhi hai…hum dono kisi aur se pyaar karte hai…and now…tum bade ho gaye ho…so hame apni zindagi jeeni hai abhi..
Kavin (angry): What about me?
KavinF: You are still our son…we both love you very much…just that hum log ek saath nahi rahenge..mujhe Delhi me Hotel Sheraton me Executive chef ka offer mil gaya hai..so I am moving out..
Kavin (pleading): Dad, Mom…kya hum teeno saath nahi reh sakte…everything will be fine…you both love me right..
KavinM: Kavin…she kisses his forehead…I am sorry..but yeh nahi ho sakta..
Flashback Over
Purvi: I am sorry Kavin..mujhe nahi pata tha..
Kavin: Purvi…maine yeh baat aaj tak kisiko nahi bataya..you are the first one to know this..
Purvi (surprised): Toh kya tum unko milte ho ?
Kavin (nods): Hmm..saal me ek baar…Mom ne pichle saal shaadi kar li..for the third time..main wohi attend karne gaya tha jab return flight me tumse mulakaat huyi…
Purvi: aur tumhare dad?
Kavin (looking down, wringing hands): Main…mera kya…who dono khush hai..toh main bhi hoon..
Purvi looks at his downcast face, she can make out he has wounds in his heart..that he has never bared…
Purvi (outstretching her arms): Can I give you a hug?
Kavin looks at her, she smiles and sees Kavin eyes are welled up with tears. His heart aches, his hands tremble – he needs some peace, he needs comfort, he needs that HUG…
He surrenders himself onto Purvi. She encompasses him gently, her body is warm, her touch is soft and the ice inside Kavin melts and finds their way out onto Purvi's slender yet strong shoulders.
Purvi: You want to cry…please do it..tumhe acha lagega..Purvi remembers the time when she had cried on Kavin's shoulders.
Kavin: Kyun paida kiya mujhe unhone Purvi….15 saal tak mere saamne natak kiya…kitni takleef huyi hogi mujhe..meri wajah se unhone apne zindagi ke 15 saal barbaad kar diye..kya main itna bura hoon..meri wajah se mere apne parents ek doosre se pyaar nahi kar paaye…main unhe saath dekhta jab bhi….i used to feel blessed…now I feel I am cursed..shayd isliye main pyaar pe vishwaas nahi karta…main kisiko who pyaar nahi de sakta..mujhme who hai hi nahi..
Purvi (hugging him tight): No Kavin…please aisa mat socho…tumhare andar bahut saara pyaar hai..tum ek bahut pyaare insaan ho…mera dil kehta hai…tumhe ek aisi ladki milegi jo itna pyaar degi, tumhari zindagi khushiyon se bhar degi…
Kavin (getting up): Thanks Purvi…I am much better now..its funny..main yeh sab baaten apne sabse closest friends ke saath bhi share nahi kar paaya..magar tumhare saath..
Purvi: Ohh..toh main tumhari dost nahi hoon? She looks at him with narrow eyes..
Kavin (smiling): Nahi ho…he replies cheekily.. she hits him with a pillow..
Kavin (laughs): arre stop it..tum dost nahi ho…pata nahi kya ho….tumhare saath acha lagta hai mujhe..
Purvi (smiles): tum mujhe dost naa maano..mere liye tum mere special friend ho…tumhe dekhkar Babuu ki yaad aati hai…aisa lagta hai who yahi hai…mere paas…
Kavin: arre…baaton baaton me khaana toh reh hi gaya….ab kya Karen…its too late to cook anything
Purvi: Kyun naa hum noodles khaaye..
Later that night
Purvi gets ready to sleep, Kavin enters her room.
Kavin: Purvi…woh…if you don't mind me saying this…tum raat ko darwaaza khulla rakhna…
Purvi: isme buraa maanne waali kaunsi baat hai…good night Kavin..
Purvi (mind): Kavin ko dekhke lagta nahi hai..itna dard chupaa hai uske dil me..uske saath itna kuch hua phir bhi who apni zindagi jee raha hai….doosron ko pyaar de raha hai…pata nahi kyun main hamesha usse khush dekhna chahti hoon..uske chehre pe muskurahat laana chahti hoon..usse bahut saara pyaar, apnapan dena chahti hoon…
She stops as she realizes what she is thinking…
Kavin room
Kavin (mind): aaj kyun maine apne dil ki baat Purvi ko bataayi…uske saamne aise rone me mujhe koi sharam bhi nahi aayi…usne jab mujhe gale lagaya..aisa laga jaise…jaise maano sab theekh ho gaya..kabhi kuch galat hua hi nahi..mera dil pighal gaya…mujhe laga mere andar bhi pyaar hai….woh meri kya hai? Dost? Bahut chota word hai friend….samajh me nahi aa raha …
I know..I know they are falling in love or have already fallen in love..how will they realise it but? Thank you once again to all my readers and reviewers ! I am so glad you like this story... Take care..Keep reading