Chapter 10 - A ray of hope

1 years ago

Shesha

@Sshesha

Next day,

Early Morning 5AM.

Soumya and Rudra has come out in early morning for jogging to the playground which is located quite nearer to Soumya's hotel.

Soumya - "I never thought that I'd wake up this early in the morning and come up for jogging... especially you called me for this..."

Rudra - "Why? Do you think that I never wake up this early in my life?"

Soumya laughs, "Actually no. Because we slept very late and jogging is neither your cup of tea nor mine."

Rudra - "Yes. Hotel gym is very costly and I neither know any other gyms. So I preferred jogging. Since it is a new area, I am in thought of calling you. Also being disciplined is very important, right? So waking up early is important."

Soumya - "I thought it to be the part of yesterday's deal."

Rudra laughed.

Rudra - "You're so innocent. Who will call for jogging to make love?"

Soumya - "That's true."

Soumya thinks, "Am I too innocent to believe that love making is not restricted to only coffee dates and dating apps?"

Rudra - "We have to track our calories because we'd be eating fast foods and drinks all these days. So we have to make jogging mandatory."

Soumya - "Yes, you're right."

Rudra and Soumya continued jogging. After a certain time, Soumya stopped running and stood keeping her hands over her leg joints. Rudra stopped jogging and comes near her.

Rudra gestured her to have some water and they both sat in a bench. 

Soumya - "Didn't you feel we run too much?"

Rudra - "Not really. We just covered some 1200 metres. Usually I run around 2500 metres."

Soumya - "I never saw you jogging at all, Rudra. When did you habituated to it?"

Soumya asked him genuinely.

Rudra - "Oh come on... Don't ask me question for which I don't have answers."

Saying this, Rudra laughed. Soumya couldn't laugh out of her tiredness.

Rudra - "Sometimes I run. Like a day before my bike race competition..."

Soumya - "Oh I see."

Rudra felt sad thinking about his bike competition. Soumya placed her hands over his hands and gave him a consoling nod.

****

2 Days later,

Rohan is in market. Buying vegetables and groceries for home. Romi simply accompanied Rohan.

Rohan is checking the conditions of each and every vegetable and putting it in basket.

Meanwhile Romi took vegetable randomly and putting it in a basket.

Rohan - "Romi, why are you taking vegetables randomly?"

Romi - "Why are you being so choosy?"

Rohan - "I am just checking if the vegetable is spoilt or not."

Romi - "Who will keep the spoilt vegetable in the shop?"

Vegetable vendor started shouting - "Are you thinking that I am selling spoilt vegetables. All the vegetables are fresh and taken right from the garden. You're doubting my credibility. Lord should save the world."

Rohan - "Aunty. I didn't mean that actually. I actually seeing which is more fresh..."

Vegetable vendor - "Don't speak anything. You insulted my vegetables. Go away."

Rohan - "Sorry aunty... sorry aunty... it's actually our mistake. We always know that your vegetables are fresh."

Romi supported the vegetable vendor.

Vegetable vendor - "I don't know how I am meeting such brainless customers... Lord should save the world."

Romi hided her laugh with her hands.

Vegetable vendor - "Why are you laughing? Am I cracking any joke? Lord should save the world."

Romi - "Sorry aunty..."

Romi and Rohan kept the vegetables there itself and moved to another vegetable stall.

Romi couldn't stop laughing.

Rohan - "Romi, will you just stop it?"

Romi - "Sorry Rohan. But it looked hilarious. How your face turned like a baby who lost his toy when she started taunting you... Its hilarious."

Rohan pouted.

Rohan - "But seriously, how could you question like that?

Romi - "Then how could you say 'spoilt'? That too in front of her."

Rohan - "Okay, leave it. Pishimaa used to say that less fresh vegetables might get spoilt soon. So from her I inherited that word. Okay, by the way, you don't know how to buy vegetable."

Romi - "Obviously I don't know. That's why I accompanied you. Anyways, I got knowledge now."

Rohan - "Out of the scene she created."

Rohan and Romi laughed. 

Suddenly a girl bumped into Rohan and both of them fell down. Romi helped them to stand up.

Romi - "Please be careful, mam."

Romi checked if Rohan is not wounded. Rohan signed that he is fine.

The girl - "Rohan?"

There is a pinch of British accent in her voice.

Rohan - "Yes."

The girl - "Hey Rohan... You are that athelete, right? I am your big fan. I am even following in your social media profiles too."

Rohan - "Yeah, relax. Nice to know that."

The girl - "Shall we take a picture together?"

Saying that, she come to Rohan and put her hands over his shoulders. Rohan felt uneasy. Romi felt slightly awkward.

The girl (looks at Romi) - "Hey chick, click a picture of us two together."

Romi gets irritated and clicked a picture of both. When she is about to give the phone, the girl commanded her to click for another pose. This time she kept her hands circling his chest. Rohan felt uncomfortable again but got convinced as she said it is the last. Romi understood his reaction.

Romi - "See this is uncomfortable. Please try some other poses."

The girl refused and Rohan signed her not to oppose. Romi reluctantly clicked the picture.

The girl again didn't leave and tried to get Rohan's face to her face lips and kissed him forcibly. Rohan resisted and pushed that girl.

Rohan - "How dare you! You're crossing your limits. This is not done. Get lost."

Romi returns the phone to her. 

Romi - "Your behavior is not good. Before I go to the police, it's better if you get lost."

The girl smirked. 

The girl - "You are insecure of me as I'm closer to him. You just get lost. I know what to do with these pictures."

Romi - "Yes, I'm. So what will you do?"

The girls groans angrily and leaves.

Romi - "Rohan, you should have refused her in the first itself. Now I guess she intentionally bumped into you."

Rohan - "Even I too feel the same. I thought that the girl would leave soon. But... I hope she don't create any scene with those pictures."

Romi - "I didn't even click any pictures so how will she create a  scene?"

Rohan looks at Romi in awe. Romi smiles.

Romi - "I didn't get a positive vibe from her. So I didn't click. And my guess came true. How dare she is?"

Rohan - "Okay, cool down."

Romi - "Yeah."

****

After two days,

Rudra's workload has been increased today is the engagement day. Ishaan is checking if all the works are going perfectly. Rudra is also making sure if all the works are going perfect though it is not really his work. He just wanted to get assurance that the event happens well and so it will result in the popularity of the event.

Ishaan and other seniors appreciated Rudra's dedication towards his work. Rudra himself wondered how he had changed from then to now.

The arrangements are going on and the Engagement ceremony is nearing.

Rudra soon go to his dressing room and changed into his uniform - lavender coat, lavender trousers, badge and a white shirt.

Rudra admired himself on the mirror and smiled caressing his hair backwards. He clicked a mirror selfie photo of himself. He is about to send it to Soumya. But something stopped him from sending. Maybe because their equation is different. Is it so? Will Soumya think if it is a green signal when it is actually a no. He came outside her chat and kept the phone in his pocket.

He came out. Even his colleagues are dressed similar and working. They are all looking stylish and dapper that they didn't look like coordinators, instead guests. Rudra laughed.

"You're looking great, Rudra." - says Ishaan patting on his shoulder.

Rudra gives a gentle smile and thanked him. He complimented back as well. 

Guests started to come over. His work is to look after catering department. He is helping them keep all the foods on the table. 

"I never thought even after when people wear such dresses, they have to do physical works without the fear of food getting spilled," says a familiar voice which made Rudra turn back. 

It is none other than Soumya. She is wearing a lavender gown and standing with a smile at Rudra.

Rudra is shocked to see Soumya.

Soumya - "Aren't you surprised?"

Rudra hold Soumya's hands and took her to the room's corner.

Rudra - "Soumya, how are you here? It is a high profile wedding and without invitation, they won't let anyone in. If they know you get inside without invitation, there would be a big problem."

Soumya - "You are a duffer."

She released her hands from his hold.

Soumya - "What do you think? I jumped off some random pipe and barged inside. Seriously?"

Rudra - "What do you mean?"

Soumya - "First, don't get tensed. Your event management company won't fire you."

Rudra - "Soumya...."

He looked at impossibly.

Soumya - "Chill. The engagement for which you've working this hard is arranged for my colleague Dimple Chatterjee. She invited all of us to her engagement as well as her wedding. So I'm here."

Rudra sighs.

Rudra - "Thank god! Anyways, sorry for my behavior. I didn't mean to but..."

Soumya - "It's okay, Rudra. I just thought of pulling your legs. So that's why.."

Soumya laughed sheepishly. Rudra pouted.

Soumya - "By the way, you didn't respond to my first statement. Don't you feel scared if the food spill on your shirt?"

Rudra - "Obviously yes. But perfect people won't."

Rudra laughed with pride.

Soumya - "Fine. By the way, you're looking good."

Rudra - "Even you're looking beautiful, Soumya."

Rudra suddenly blurted out. Soumya blushed with happiness. Rudra feels slight embarrassment.

Soumya noticed the minor changes in his face and she too gets dull.

Rudra takes some excuses and moved away. Soumya too goes.

***

Romi is sitting in a cafeteria as Rohan has called her for a evening snack. He also informed her that there is something necessary to talk about.

Romi starts reading a magazine that is kept on the table. Time passed by, Rohan didn't show up yet. She tried to call him but he didn't attend.

After 2 hours,

Romi decides to leave the cafe as she come to the door and suddenly Rohan shows up. 

Romi turns her face and go back to the table. Rohan followed her pulling his ears cutely in front of Romi to seek forgiveness.

Romi - "No need of these childish acts, Rohan. I was waiting for you since 2 hours."

Rohan sat on the floor holding his ears and made a puppy face.

Rohan - "Please forgive me, Romi. I am sorry."

Romi - "Don't make such puppy faces...."

Rohan still didn't change his expression. Romi tried to control her laugh.

Romi - ""Rohan, what's wrong with you? People are seeing us."

Rohan still didn't listen.

Romi - "Okay fine. I forgave you. First sit with me."

Rohan sits near Romi.

Romi - "Okay, why are you late?"

Rohan - "We'll speak about it later. First what you're eating. I'm sure you didn't even eat anything."

Rohan ordered a cup of coffee and pancakes.

Romi - "So... Why did you call me here?"

Rohan - "Should I not call you?"

Romi - "Uffo! What's wrong with you!"

Rohan laughed while Romi is puzzled.

***

Engagement ceremony started as the groom Arjun Deepak (Aashay Mishra) and bride Dimple Chatterjee (Shivika Pathak) go to the stage. The couple is looking so adorable that everyone is looking at them only. Arjun is looking at Dimple dearly and Dimple shies away. Soumya is looking at them and wondered if Rudra look at her like this.

Rudra come near her.

Rudra - "You're thinking that if I look at you like that."

Soumya looks at him with a surprised expression.

Rudra - "I can understand it."

Soumya - "Actually..."

Rudra - "Let it be. God knows what is written for us further."

Soumya smiled painfully hearing his words.

During ring exchange, Arjun kneels down and extended his arms for proposal.

Arjun - "You're the reason for my existence. You helped me to find the meaning of my life. I promise you to love you more than you love me. I want you to be the best part of my everything in my life. Will you be with me?"

 Everyone were going awestruck seeing the gesture. Dimple blushed and nodded. Arjun hugged Dimple and kissed her forehead. When Arjun is about to put the ring for Dimple, he felt dizzy and went unconscious on the floor. 

Everyone got shocked and run to the stage. They took Arjun to groom's personal room and called doctor. The ceremony is full of noises.

Few started bashing the bride Dimple for being unlucky and wretched and calls the function and affair is not a good sign. 

Rudra and Soumya are silently witnessing everything. Dimple comes out of his room. Soumya goes to her. Rudra too followed her.

Soumya - "Dimple, how is Arjun? Is he fine?"

Dimple - "Don't worry, Soumya. He went unconscious because he hadn't eaten anything since morning due to his work meetings."

Rudra - "Glad that nothing serious."

Ishaan took Rudra with him. Rudra excused himself and moved from there.

Soumya - "Also, please don't take people's words to your heart. I hope you didn't."

Dimple - "Not at all, Soumya. I believe in my love. My belief is stronger than anything else. Our journey is much bigger than this. We have the spark, compatibility and everything that is needed to make our love work. In fact, there was a time when I believed that we won't be possible together due to many reasons. He is not even sure of his feeling to me once but he is loving me and reciprocating his love more than myself."

Soumya smiled with some ray of hope. 

Soumya - "I feel so happy. Hope you live happily in your life."

Dimple - "I can understand you, Soumya. From what I have seen on Rudra, he is very similar to Arjun. He was shy and introverted. I don't know if it is true or not. But you don't lose you hope and do every things to make this relationship work."

Soumya nodded with a emotional smile.

Dimple - "Arjun will come within 15 minutes. So enjoy the function."

Dimple goes. 

(Bade Ache Lagte Hain 2 song plays)

Aa... Aa...
Aa... Aa...
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Ye Dharti Ye nadiya
Ye raina (Aur) Aur Tum..

Arjun comes to the stage. Dimple hugged Arjun. They exchanged the rings and started dancing upon Arjun's insistence.

 Bade Achhe Lagte Hain

 Ye Dharti Ye Nadiya
 Ye Raina (Aur) Aur Tum.. 

Soumya comes near Rudra and they are clapping for their ring exchangement.

Soumya - "They are looking adorable, right?"

Rudra - "Yeah, I can see the love in Dimple's eyes. Arjun's eyes too but it was more intense in Dimple's eyes."

Soumya - "It's true. But they are loving each other selflessly. That matters."

Rudra smiled and says, "Yes."

Soumya - "What about us, Rudra? Will we become a couple and for our engagement too, they'll play this song... Bade Achhe Lagte Hain...?"

Dheere.. Dheere
Haule haule
Chupke se ab hoga

Rudra - "How do I know?"

Soumya - "What is your wish? Will it be nice if we become a couple? Just asking..."

Rudra - "Hmm... yeah... It will look good. After all we are friends... So we know each other really well. So as a couple, it might work."

Kehte hain ye
Pyaar jise hum
 Na jaane kab hoga..

Soumya smiles.

Rudra - "I like the idea of we becoming a pair to be honest."

Dheere.. Dheere
Haule haule
Chupke se ab hoga

Soumya - "With those little conversations, romance and everything... it would be peaceful, Rudra."

Kehte hain ye
Pyaar jise hum
Na jaane kab hoga..

Rudra  nodded his head.

Rudra thinks, "It look nice if we become a couple but for that love is necessary. Will I love Soumya?"

Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
 Ye mausamYe baatein
Ye uljhan (Aur..)Aur Tum.. (Bade Acche Lagte Hain 2)

To be continued...

Precap: Rohan informs Romi that he wasn't hit by a truck when the accident happened to him. Romi gets shocked and asks him further details. Rohan tells her that he couldn't remember how he met up with an accident.