Chapter 6

1 years ago

Adi

@ZA_Ray

Chapter 6

Nikita was pouring over the files from New Sanjeevani Project and taking notes, even though it was Sunday evening and her last off day before she officially started her new job. She had already sent an email to Abhimanyu with some queries but this time she was going through the files again to write down some suggestions when her personal phone rang, it was her mother.

"Hi, mumma."

"Hi, baby. Sorry I couldn't call you earlier due to the time difference. Have you settled in?"

"It's fine and yes things are fine here. Where are you now?" Nikki's parents had to travel a lot for business purposes and she couldn't keep track of their locations.

"We came to Malaysia today but I will be coming back soon. Do you want me to come to Mumbai first?"

"No mom." Nikki hurriedly replied "No need. Everything is fine here."

She heard her mom sigh heavily "Beta it's been so long since I saw you. You didn't even let me come to Pune."

"Mom you know why... I just...let me deal with my internship first. It's only a matter of a few more months. We will meet after that I promise."

"Okay. Do you want anything from Delhi's home? When I go I can parcel that to you."

"Nope. I don't need anything."

"Fine" Mrs. Malhotra took a pause thinking whether she should ask the next question "And... Have you talked with Ish..?"

"No." Her reply was short and cold.

"It's been a while... maybe just talk.." Mrs. Malhotra tried to reason.

"Mom, please. I just want to concentrate on my work for now." Nikki always avoided these topics like plague but her mom would bring it up once in a while.

"Okay. Do as you see fit." She finally gave up "Oh, have you met Armaan?"

"Yes. Met him and his friends and Riddhima too. She is such a sweetheart."

"This reminds me. Let me know when they fix their wedding date and also suggest me what we can gift them. We can't attend the wedding so I want to gift them something that will be meaningful."

Nikki smiled, her mother has always been this thoughtful about everyone, a trait she adored and practiced too. Their conversation got interrupted when Nikki's other phone rang.

"Speak of the Devil and he calls."

Nikki's mom laughed "Good, now talk to him and give him my love. You too take care, and let me know if you need anything."

"Sure, mom. Love you."

"Love you too baccha. Bye."

Nikki picked up Armaan's call "Hey, Satan"

"This is Amraan speaking, not Dr. Modi."

"Can you not have a conversation without mentioning him?" Nikki rolled her eyes

"You called me Satan so I had to clarify." Armaan was ready with his reply.

"I said that because mom and I were just talking about you...and your wedding gift."

"How is she?" Nikki can hear the smile in his voice, over the years her family and Armaan got close, and they loved him as their own. "More importantly will aunty and uncle attend the wedding functions?"

"Probably not."

"Is it because you don't want them to?"

"Yes... and also they probably won't even be in India at that time."

"Please, Nikki. If you ask them they will of course come. I don't understand what's going on. Aunty won't tell me anything, and neither will Ish..."

"You talk with him?" Nikki couldn't hide the shock in her voice.

"Yeah sometimes. He actually called me today and talked for a while, and like old times asked me to look after you. I will anyway, but I also understand his concern. Why are you so surprised?"

Nikki was trying to control her rising temper "Things changed."

"Yes, I figured but what? He still seems to care about you but he said you guys are not on talking terms."

"I don't want to talk about this." This is the second time today Nikki was being asked about this and she didn't know how long can she hold back her anger.

"I thought I was your best friend... don't I have the right to know?"

"You are my best friend Armaan and that's why you should know I don't make any irrational decisions. I am just not ready to talk about all these."

Amraan heard the frustration in her voice and didn't want to pester her more and make her upset. He will eventually figure it out but decided to drop the topic for now. "Okay, I won't ask anything else. Anyway, I might have a surprise for you." his voice turned mischievous.

"What surprise?" Nikki asked with concern, catching his tone.

"It's a surprise, Nikki."

"This can't be anything good."

"On the contrary, this might be something amazing." Amraan gave a teasing laugh and cut the call.

'Great! as if this is not going to annoy me.' Getting irritated at her best friend Nikki went back to the reports but before she could finish reading a sentence her phone rang again.

"Arrgghhh... What do I have to do to get some peace?" she cried out loud. Taking her phone she noticed this time it was Abhimanyu and calmed down immediately "Hey..."

"Hi...How are you doing?" Abhi asked, happy to hear her voice.

"I am...okay, I guess. I was working on the project actually."

"Yes, about that...I got your mail. I think it's better if we discuss this upfront, as your queries are a bit complicated to explain in the mail. I am actually at the hospital now...you can come by if you want."

"On a Sunday? No thank you very much." Nikki had no intention of leaving her house today.

Abhi couldn't help but laugh at her reply "But you are working already."

"Yeah... at home from my bed. There is no way in Hell or Heaven or even Earth that can make me get out of bed today."

Abhi was truly amused, she was so adamant about the project and worked on her off days but so blatantly refused to sacrifice the comfort of her home. "Haha... okay don't worry. I appreciate that you are working on your off day even. As for the queries we will discuss them tomorrow."

"Thanks for understanding. Will see you tomorrow then."

"Yes, you will. Bye"

"Bye." she smiled to herself and cut the call.

Nikki traced her lingering smile with her fingers, which was there because she actually looked forward to seeing him. Thinking about their past meetings Nikki realized she enjoyed her time with him, he was serious and composed but he was also considerate and easy to talk to, well with her at least. The description she heard from Armaan and the gang didn't match her experience and her smile broadened, hoping she was the exception. Even though the main reason she shifted was to work on the project but deep down Nikki knew she honestly did it because Abhimanyu was related to it.

This realization made her question herself 'Do I like him?.. Hmmm Of course I do...or else I wouldn't agree to work with him. But not professionally, do I like him more than that?' and she thought for a while 'There is something about you Dr. Abhimanyu.. Abhi that I feel connected with. I had good relationships with my seniors but never like this. It feels good when I talk with you and our fun banters... teasing you comes naturally. You also respect my space and opinions, and not to mention you are unnecessarily good-looking, so much so that it can sometimes be distracting. And I haven't felt this way in such a long time Abhi...Huh, maybe I do like you.' Nikki felt weird to think about him like this but if she was being honest it also kinda felt good. 'Though you don't get along with my friends, but we can work on that. If I can fix Armaan and others, I can fix you too. Let's see what the future holds for us.'

Figuring out her feelings for Abhi gave Nikki a content feeling. The stress from the previous conversations with her mom and Armaan was all forgotten, and her heart was happy with the new revelation.

Author's Note ~

1) What do you think Nikki is avoiding from her past? smiley5