Chapter 26 [New Chapter]

1 years ago

Sana

@sweetangel_25

Part 26

Around afternoon the same day…

Armaan wants some important papers related to their project from Muskaan. She was working on that file last week. As he gets up to go to meet her, he hesitates. After all, they have not had a direct conversation since.. since well.. the engagement announcement. Everyone has been too busy preparing for the engagement, including them. But even then, he cant help but notice the slight hesitation that has developed between them. He brushes his thoughts aside. He needs to get the papers from her, because important project work is pending.

He leaves his desk and quickly makes his way towards Muskaan’s new cabin where the girls shifted last week.

As he knocks and enters the cabin, he is surprised to see Aman there. He smiles in a formal manner at him and moves towards Muskaan.

Armaan : Muskaan mujhe wo last factory visit ki file chahiye thi. Jo tum last week study kar rahi thi?

Muskaan nods and gets the file from her cabinet and hands over to him without a word. He notices that and doesn’t like it.

Armaan : Actually Muskaan, mujhe tumse kuch baat bhi karni thi. Would you mind coming to my cabin for a while?

Muskaan is hesitating. She does not want to be alone with him. Aman notices this and comes to her rescue.

Aman: Muskaan and I were in the middle of a discussion. She won’t be able to go now.

Armaan is taken back by that and turns to look at Aman, who has a stiff expression on his face.

Armaan: Its fine Muskaan, we can talk later.

When he reaches his cabin, he slams the file on his desk. He cannot understand why but he does not like this Aman guy. There is something wrong about him that he cannot quiet put his finger on.

Back in Muskaan‘s cabin..

Muskaan: That was rude Aman. Shayad use kuch important kaam hoga?

Saying this she starts moving towards the door to go to meet him.

Aman: Agar important hota AUR office related hota, to wo yahi par bhi bata sakta tha. OR, do I assume that you are still as desperate to talk to him alone?

His last sentence froze Muskaan in her tracks. Unable to answer him back or meet his eyes she turns back to her desk.

When Naazneen looks up at him with a confused look he simply nods to assure her that he knows what he is doing.

Sometime later.. 

Muskaan is working at her desk while Naaz and Aman are out for coffee. A clerk comes to her and informs her that Aman wants to meet her out on the office terrace garden. She is confused but still goes.

She is waiting on the terrace when the connecting door to the office opens and she turns around expecting Aman. Instead, she is shocked to see Armaan walking through the doors. He walks straight up to her.

Armaan: hey Muskaan, tumne bulaya mujhe?

Muskaan is confused : maine?

Armaan: haan.. wo clerk ne kaha ki.. tumne bulaya mujhe yaha

Muskaan understand that Aman arranged for this. But she does not want to talk to Armaan. Every time she finds herself alone with him, her painful memories threaten to surface.

M: I think there is a misunderstanding. I have nothing to say to you. I should leave.

But Armaan does not let her go. He blocks her path.

Armaan: Kya baat hai Muskaan ? Naraz ho mujhse?

Muskaan smiles sadly : nahi to. Tumse kyu naraz hogi

Armaan: Par mujhe to aisa lagta hai ki.. koi to baat hai.. jis wajah se tum mujhe.. ignore kar rahi ho shayad

Muskaan get irritated now..: maine kaha na, aisi koi baat nahi

Armaan: acha phir thik hai.. jaane do ( he decides to drop that topic). Mujhe ye batao.. tum…. Zaheer ke saath… khush ho.. ho na?

At this Muskaan turns to him staring straight into his eyes. She does not answer for a long time as the two continue to read each other.

Finally Muskaan speaks….: Ye mera personal matter hai.. aur mujhe nahi lagta ki mujhe tumhe kuch batane ki zarurat hai

Armaan is shocked at the way she is talking to him.

Armaan: Kyu Muskaan .. mujhe lagta tha hum ek doosre se sab kuch share kar sakte the. Or was I wrong?

M(angry now): Yes you were wrong. And if you are done here, may I leave?

Without waiting for an answer she storms out of the terrace. Once she reaches the privacy of her cabin she locks it and bursts out in a flood of tears.

Perched by a window right above the terrace garden, Aman observes the shocked Armaan still standing grounded at the same spot that Muskaan left him. Aman was definitely surprised by their conversation. He got more than he expected to get from the meeting. He sips from the coffee in his hands and leaves the place.

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It was evening and Muskaan was wrapping up her desk files. Aman excuses himself and quickly leaves the cabin. Muskaan notices this and wonders where he went now. She didn’t confront him about the terrace incident. Knowing Aman, she knew he could easily turn the conversation back on her and put her in a tight corner of questions and answers. And God knew, she could’nt handle any more questions. She sighed and continued wrapping up her work for the day. Aman came rustling back to her cabin.

Naazneen: kaha gaye the?

Aman: wo mujhe uncle se puchna tha kuch, but I noticed everyone is leaving for the day. I think hume bhi nikalna chahiye. So chale? Muskaan?

All 3 of them leave the cabin and notice the others in the corridor near the elevators.

As the elders leave in their cars, Armaan is walking towards the concierge to get his keys when Aman picks up pace besides him and angles his foot in front of Armaan in a way that makes Armaan fall flat against the ground and on his face.

Muskaan, who was walking behind them yelps as she sees him fall down with a thud and quickly runs to him.

Muskaan: Armaan. Are you ok?

She helps him from the ground and checks him.  He has placed his hand on his head and his eyes were half closed. He is so disoriented that he is still trying to grasp what happened to him. Muskaan quickly examines him from head to toe. There was no visible damage to his head, but he was bleeding on his arm. She looks around and notices the edge of the wall near where he fell. That might have scratched him.

As Naazneen tries to race behind Muskaan with concerned expressions, Aman takes her arm and holds her right by his side. She is very confused by this, but his hold is so strong that she is not able to move.

Muskaan: Armaan you are bleeding. You need first aid, come with me.

She takes him to the office’s first aid room, makes him sit comfortably on a chair and helps him out of his suit jacket to inspect the wound. By then Armaan got his awareness back as his head was hurting less but he still let Muskaan take the lead and quietly followed her instructions. She got the first aid kit and took care of his wound with a lot of care and attention.

All the while Armaan could not his eyes off her. He realized the scratch was quite insignificant, but she was still treating it like his life depended on it. He quietly let her do as she liked while taking his time to observe the various expressions crossing her face.

Just then Zaheer walks in.

Zaheer: Armaan kya hua? Are you alright? The security at the reception told me you had a fall.

Armaan: I am fine Zaheer. Haath par scratch tha, par Muskaan ne bandage kar diya. Ab theek hai. Thanks Muskaan, I didn’t know you were so good at first aid.

‘college me seekha tha’ a blunt voice interrupted.

All 3 turn their heads to see Aman walking inside the room with Naaz. He comes to stand beside Muskaan.

Aman: Humne college mein extracurricular training ki thi first aid mein. Hai na Muskaan?

Muskaan smiles lightly and nods at his comment.

Aman: I think we are done here. So, shall we leave? Its quiet late.

Zaheer: Armaan, you ride with me. Come I will help you.

Aman: Muskaan, can you drop me. I didn’t get my car today.

Muskaan: of course

Armaan stares after them for a second, then follows Zaheer towards the elevator.

*******************************************************************************

In the car, Muskaan is about the ignite the engine when Aman asks her –

Aman: so Muskaan, tum reh nahi payi use first aid kiye bina, hai na?

Muskaan turns to stare at him.

Muskaan: what are you saying Aman? He was hurt.

Aman: Really? How big was the scratch Muskaan?

Muskaan realizes how small the scratch really was and so doesn’t answer him.

Aman: Ek baat batao.. agar yahi incident tumhari Zaheer se shaadi ke baad hota, to kya tum Zaheer ke samne hote hue bhi isi tarah react karti?

Muskaan is completely taken back by his comment.

Aman: Tell me? Kya tab bhi tum…. apne emotions ko control nahi kar pati? Huh?

Muskaan was speechless.

Muskaan: what are trying to get to Aman?

Aman: Well.. tumhe pehli baar kisi se pyaar hua.. wo bhi is had tak… ki tum apne aap ko bhul gayi.. badal gayi puri tarah uske saath.. aur ab tum.. sab kuch bhula kar.. kisi aur se shaadi karne ja rahi ho.. and you are hoping that you will be able to put everything behind you so easily.. and be happy ever after.. is that a good way to put it Muskaan?

His words were making Muskaan shrink in her seat.

Muskaan (dejected): Chahte kya ho tum?

Aman: Tumhe nahi lagta Muskaan, that you are about to give up your most prized possession, without any fight?

Muskaan: Fight? What exactly do I fight for? Aur tum samjhte nahi.. ghar par sab bohot kush hai. Mein sirf apne liye sab kuch barbad nahi kar sakti

Aman nods:… right. Janta hu uncle bohot khush hai. Kyuki wo sochte hai ki tum bohot khush ho. Socho agar unhone tumhe ek baar is tarah sisak sisak kar rote hue dekh liye, to kya beetegi unpar? You think his weak heart will be able to take it?

Muskaan just placed her head on the steering completely exhausted.

Muskaan: Armaan does not have any feelings for me. Tum kyu nahi samjhte. Uske liye aam baat hai kisi ladki ka uske peeche pagal ho jana

Aman: Kya ye baat usne tumse khud kahi? Did he say he does not have any feelings for you? Kya tumne pucha use?

Muskaan shakes her head in a no.

Muskaan: par mujhe pata hai

Aman: Really Muskaan? Kuch assumptions ke basis par tum apni life ka itna important faisla karne ja rahi ho?

Muskaan looks at him now with moist eyes and a defeated face.

Muskaan: Aman. Mujh mein ab bilkul himmat nahi. I cannot take any more pain than I already have. Nahi himmat mujhme.

Tears roll down her cheeks and she tries to look away from him.

Aman: This is not the Muskaan I know. Where is that Muskaan who used to fight for everything in life? Who was so toughened up that she wouldn’t let go the smallest of competitions without trying and winning?

Muskaan didn’t answer him or look his way.

A : yaad hai Muskaan.. jab mein naya aya tha London mein.. as a student.. tum, Naaz aur Feroz uncle ne mujhe kitna support kiya. You guys accepted me with open arms. Mujhe kabhi apni family ki kami mehsoos nahi hone di. Itna kuch kiya tumne mere liye. Aaj mujhe moka nahi dogi.. kuch karne ka?

M (silent tears still rolling down her cheeks) : Aman, I have lost faith in everything. I don’t want to hope and dream with open eyes anymore…..

Aman keeps a light hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

A : aisa mat kaho.. tumme himmat nahi bachi ho par mujh mein hai. Just leave it me. Sab mujhpe chod do.

As Muskaan tries to control her tears and wipes her face, Aman squeezes her hand lightly to offer support.

Part ends.

Comments awaited very eagerly guys!!!!

Whoever is reading pls atleast use the reaction buttons so I know somebody is reading.

Love, Sana.