Thank you for reading this and I really appreciate all your comments. Thanks so much guys.
What with the way the serial is heading (I mean towards P/M pairing)(I absolutely love KGGK), I was really stuck with what to write, I'm so sorry, but I did try my best and I hope you like this chapter. And what with all the football action in the last two weeks (end of EPL, FA Cup, Champions League etc) some football stuff has just come into the story. I apologise if you find this boring. And I mean absolutely no offence to any ManU, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool fans, no offence to Cristiano Ronaldo or Didier drogba, whatever has been said has been said in pure and complete fun, no offence meant. So, please fans of CR and DD, don't shoot me dead. I think both of them are great.
Finally, all the quotes found in this chapter have been taken from a Book of Quotations and are not my creations. On to the next chapter then.
Chapter Six
He was walking towards his class when he heard his name being called and he turned around to see Maithili hurrying towards him. "Adi," she said trying to catch her breath, I'm glad you're back. Are you feeling better now?" He nodded unsmilingly, trying to fight off the instantaneous pleasure he had felt upon seeing her. I'm not even drunk now! What is with me? He had been away from college almost a week as he had been down with a severe viral infection. This was the first time he was seeing her after that night at Incendio. Don't go there buddy! She was radiant in pink, the colour actually reflecting on her cheeks, her smile so bright and her eyes …. Adi stop it! He looked away cursing whatever it was that was making him feel all these weird things. Could it be the medicines? Maybe they are affecting my mind! He looked away frowning. She looked at him hesitantly and continued, "I wanted to say something to you, I met your parents at the mall sometime back," He nodded, "Adi, you know I'm really sorry about the way I spoke to your mother, don't you?" He nodded again, "Well, I just want to apologise again to your mother," she said, her face suddenly very serious. "Its okay," he told her shortly, "I've conveyed your apologies." She shook her head slightly, "No, Adi, I want to say it to her personally. I'll feel much better after I've apologized to her." She was looking so serious and earnest that he couldn't help the slight smile that tugged at his mouth, "Well, if you feel that way, you know where my house is, go ahead and see her. Or if you want to call her, I can give you her number." Thanks, I think I'll go see her personally," she smiled at him, paused and then hesitated slightly, "If you could tell me a time when," she paused again, he raised his eyebrows, "when," she continued slowly, carefully looking at him, "your grandfather and father are usually not at home." He couldn't help it this time. He laughed, "Scared of them, are you?" She nodded quickly, to his amusement, "Don't laugh! You won't understand! I won't even be able to open my mouth if your grandfather is there," she said frankly, "I'm too much in awe of him, and your father will not let me say anything at all even if I'm able to, I think he totally dislikes me, not that I blame him after the way I behaved with your mother that time." Adi looked at her, his face alight with amusement and reluctant admiration, and then nodded, "Okay, I'll let you know." She gave him a bright smile. He looked at her again, feeling a sudden urge to reassure her and finding that thought very very strange. Don't analyse anything! Analysis just makes things worse! He shrugged after a moment and turned to walk away when she said, "And Adi, I wanted to say I'm really very happy that your Mother is completely alright." She was smiling still, her face all lit up, her eyes, so translucent in the daylight, so pretty…..He could keep looking at her! He nodded his thanks, avoiding looking into her eyes, wanting to get away from her presence as much as he wanted to stay and look at her. It was so weird! He'd never ever felt the need to just look at anyone before! He turned abruptly and walked away, feeling her gaze following him, knowing she would be puzzled by his abrupt departure and wondering why that bothered him so much.
Maithili gazed after him surprised by his sudden abruptness. What is the matter with him? She shrugged and walked back to her office. Talk about mood swings! But it was certainly strange how much she thought about Adi these days. And what strange thoughts too! 'In fact, I do believe that I'm thinking more about Adi than Pranay these days', she thought. How absurd! She smiled thinking about how much she used to hate Adi. She thought back to the first time she had seen him. She had been trying to avoid being seen by Trishna Daadi and she had bumped into him, spilling his drink in the process. He had spoken very arrogantly and condescendingly to her, calling her a waitress. That had rankled and she had given back as good as she got. Their confrontations had just gotten worse after that and the morphed pictures the absolute limit. At the time it happened, she'd thought she could never hate anyone as much as she did Adi. But now it seemed so very long ago, it seemed almost unreal! And she certainly didn't hate Adi at all, not anymore. How time changes everything! 'Time and perspective,' she thought, 'it is perspective that changes our opinions about people, about everything actually.'
She had just sat down at her desk when Janki Devi walked out of her room angrily, "Maithili, next time Suyash Mehra comes here, I do not want you to accept anything he gives you. Understand." Janki Devi looked furious, her colour was high and she looked dangerous. Maithili had learnt not to argue with her employer when she was on the rampage and so she nodded meekly. That will happen! I'll refuse to accept it and he'll just listen to me! Hah! Perhaps her thoughts reflected on her face, for Janki Devi threw her a searching look and then turned and walked into her office muttering under her breath. Maithili looked at the closed door, wondering what it was about Suyash Mehra that drove her formidable boss so mad. Not your concern Maithili, continue your work otherwise you won't finish this by evening. She turned back to her work.
After a while, she looked up from her work and sighed. It was nearing lunch time and she was feeling hungry. This morning she had been in a hurry and therefore, she had not been able to pack her lunch. She sighed, 'Oh Well!, I'll just get something from the canteen. I wish Pragati was here today. I hate eating alone in the canteen.' Normally, Pragati ate with her in the office itself but Pragati had to run an errand during lunch time and so, she would not be joining her today. At that moment, the outer door to the office was thrown open and Suyash Mehra strode in, his face set. "I am here to meet Janki Devi", he barked. Usually, Maithili would ask if the visitor had an appointment etc but this time, she just pressed the intercom button and informed Janki Devi in a low voice that Suyash Mehra was there to see her. "Well, I don't want to see him," she was informed curtly, "I'm busy Maithili, see that I'm not disturbed." She hung up and Maithili was left with the phone in her suddenly nerveless hand. Oh no! What do I do now? Suyash Mehra was looking at her impatiently and she stammered apologetically, silently cursing Janki Ma'am for putting her in this situation, "So…Sorry Sir, Ma'am is busy right now, so…." "She's not busy," he stated sardonically, looking down his nose coldly at her, "tell her if she doesn't see me in the next two minutes, I'll just go in" Maithili's hands were trembling as she pressed the intercom button again, Caught in the crossfire! "What is it Maithili?" Janki Devi almost shouted, "Can't I have a moment's peace here, I told you not to disturb me." "Ma'am," Maithili said, her voice deliberately low, Mr. Mehra has said that he will not leave until you see him." She looked at Mr. Mehra to see if he had heard how she had twisted his order into an almost request but he was looking away. She heard a profane curse at the other end before the phone was hung up forcefully. A few seconds later the inner door swung open and Janki Dei walked towards Mr. Mehra, her eyes flashing sparks at him. "How dare you come here and make these insane requests Mr. Mehra," she threw at him angrily. He bit out in a low cold voice, "I'm the chief trustee here, or have you forgotten that as well as other things." Maithili watched the two of them from her chair, feeling like a drama was going to unfold in front of her eyes. "I have no time to hear anything that you have to say. And, another thing, take those documents when you leave. I don't want to read them." Janki Devi told him rudely, her eyes still shooting sparks at him.
"I'll leave when I choose to leave Ms. Janki," Suyash Mehra countered, his voice dripping ice, and as Maithili watched open mouthed, he suddenly caught her by her upper arm and said something softly to her. What on earth was that! Her countenance changed slightly, she shrugged his hand off and stormed into her room, Mr. Mehra following her. The door was closed with a bang and Maithili stared at the door silently for some time. She had never thought of herself as particularly dramatic but she suddenly understood the phrase, "and the atmosphere in the room became electric" Wow! She wondered what caused them to be so antagonistic. For surely, there was some reason. What can it be? There was something huge here that she didn't understand, she was sure about that. Curiosity killed the Cat, remember! She stood up and stretched, maybe I should just go get lunch and let them kill each other, she thought with amusement. Clash of the Titans!
She down in a corner of the canteen with her tray, at an empty table. 'Good, she had come in early,' she thought, 'otherwise it would have been difficult to get a table all to herself.' If only Pragati was here! She ate quietly oblivious to the growing crowd and noise around her. Why did Janki Devi and Mr. Mehra hate each other so much? She felt really curious about it. After all, she didn't even think they knew each other very well. But if they didn't know each other very well, how come they hated each other so much. 'Actually, it was more than hate,' she thought. She had never seen Janki Devi look with such distaste at anyone. Mr. Mehra, in any case, always had that cold forbidding expression on his face, so it was difficult to gauge what he was actually feeling or thinking.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by a couple of girls who asked if they could share her table, she nodded As if I can say no! and moved her chair slightly so they could have more space. As she looked around idly, she became conscious that the girls were discussing some article they had read about 'how to know whether you are in love' and they were laughing about it and pulling each others leg. Honestly! But she smiled, some of what they were saying was really funny. Some utterly sappy stuff from some Bollywood movie, close your eyes and try to visualize someone dear, the person whose face you can see with utter clarity is the one you love the most. Really! Must try sometime then! Then one of them started reading aloud from a magazine, "If you love someone set them free. If they come back, they're yours, if they don't, they never were" Mmm..mm Richard Bach! Nice to hear but hard to do, surely! "One of the hardest things in life is watching the person you love, love someone else.' Been there! "Trying to make someone fall in love with you is about as pointless as trying to control who you fall in love with" A lesson you should learn Maithili! "Love is not blind; it simply enables one to see things others fail to see" True, I suppose! "Oooh…girls, listen to this….'I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.' Well, isn't that something?" Yes! Nice, very nice, aww..www! "Wait girls, the last one is the best one, listen….'Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep.... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on..... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.' Oh! if I could only find someone like this." Yeah! You and the rest of us! They started discussing some guy and dissecting his actions, Maithili sighed and tuned out of their conversation. Maithili, just finish and head back, there's so much work!
Across the room, Adi tried not to stare at the corner table too obviously. He was having lunch with his friends as usual and the first person he had seen when he had sat down was Maithili, seated alone at the far corner. His gaze just kept moving towards her and he couldn't help it. Lord! Please rid me of this affliction! She looked like she was having a conversation with herself while she ate. She's insane and I'm a lunatic for still watching! He shook his head slightly and turned to listen to something Dhruv was saying. Dhruv was speaking excitedly about the UEFA Champions League Final tickets that he had managed to get. Oh boy! "I'm telling you again Dhruvie," he told Dhruv airily, "Liverpool are just lucky to be playing AC Milan in the Final. If they were playing ManU, that title would also be safely in our pocket." Dhruv glared at him, "Oh! please, you guys lost 3 nil to Milan in the second leg, that's a definite loss in my opinion." Adi snorted, "Lets see then, folks," he addressed everyone on the table, who were grinning widely, knowing what was coming next, They'd had similar conversations at lunch time each day for some time now!, ticking each point against each finger, "ManU completed the domestic double against Liverpool this season, Arsenal's youth team slammed Liverpool twice in the span of five days or something and sent them crashing out of the FA Cup, and in the Premiership, one has to have binoculars to look back as to their position, the gap is huge, so guys, the statistics speak for themselves, don't they!" "Oh! please" protested Dhruv loudly, "what utter rubbish Adi, Liverpool's third in the premiership, for crying out loud, binoculars, what nonsense" "The truth is bitter to take, Dhruvie, I know," Adi drawled. The others laughed. Adi was crazy about Manchester United, he'd been a fan all his life, his Dad was a ManU fan, his Daadu was a ManU fan, according to his Mamma, his Dad had made him wear a miniature ManU jersey merely two months after he was born, for a picture. Honestly, Dad was too much!
He tugged at Dhruv's hair, "Admit it, Dhruvie, ManU Rules!" Dhruv made a sound like he was gagging and laughed nastily, "When Liverpool wins the Champions League, my friend, let's have another chat about this. They'll then be the best team in Europe, not your overrated team from Manchester." Adi laughed loudly, "You're such a sore loser Dhruvie, the statistics just speak for themselves, do me a favour and check them out sometime, okay, you really need to get rid of these delusions that you've been having about your Mersey side outfit. And watch it buddy, Milan will win this time. They are out for revenge this time." "Shut up Adi, don't you remember what had happened in Istanbul during the 2005 Final" Dhruv countered. The argument got hot and loud and before they realized it, quite a lot of people had gathered around, some just grinning and others adding their comments into the fray. As he looked around, Adi realized with a start that Maithili was also standing near them, a bright smile on her face. "Aah! Maithili," he heard Dhruv address her, "we need a neutral judge here, you help us sort this in a friendly manner." He glared at Dhruv who gave him a knowing look and then turned to Maithili, "My friends," he told her "have been spending too much time in Mehra House with this nitwit," he nodded towards Adi, "traitors, the lot of them." "How can I help?" she asked him grinning. Her smile was so infectious. He couldn't help smiling himself! "You heard the argument, didn't you?" he asked her. She nodded, "Every word. We all did actually," she gestured around smiling. "So, whom do you think is better, Liverpool or ManU?," he asked her and as she opened her mouth to answer, interrupted her, "Wait a sec, you're not a ManU fan as well, are you?" he looked at her suspiciously. She started laughing, shaking her head firmly. "Well then, what do you say? Liverpool or ManU?" he asked her.
"Neither," Maithili grinned at him cheekily, "first of all, Liverpool did not deserve to go through to the final, winning on penalties is so boring," she told an astonished looking Dhruv. Adi laughed as she stifled a theatric yawn, This girl was really quite something! "Honestly," she continued smoothly, "they have been boring all season, except for the match with Barca, I think." His smile faded as she continued, "ManU may have won the Premiership this season but that's been due to the dazzling theatrics of the Diving Wonder Ronaldo, so please forgive me if I say that the best team, in my opinion, is and will always be, Chelsea." What the hell! "Hello, excuse me, madam," Adi asked her indignantly, "What do you mean by calling Ronaldo a diver? Do you even know how many awards he's got just this season: Footballer of the Year, Fans Player of the Year, Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year! He's simply amazing okay and speaking of Divers, let's talk about your 4D character, The Diving Dolphin Didier Drogba! Have you seen the Tiger Beer ad? It still shows the Diving Drogba." She glared at him, all traces of amusement vanishing, "Oh! please, give me a break…." "And, madam, what have Chelski won this season?" he interrupted, giving her his most arrogant look, "and please don't say Carling Cup, that's so.." he gestured with a thumbs down expression. "Winning the Title after four long years may be a great achievement where you come from Vikram Aditya Mehra" she informed him coolly, Here we go again! "but pray tell me, where were your red devils ……" "Hey guys, chill," Dhruv jumped in between them smiling, "just a friendly discussion, remember" Maithili looked at him and smiled, "Sure, just remember to keep a couple of buckets ready for your friend here," she nodded in Adi's direction, "to collect his tears when Chelsea take them apart at the Bridge next week." She looked at Adi pityingly and walked away, smiling as she turned away from them. "And at the new Wembley week after next, somebody has forgotten about the FA Cup Final match that is yet to be played", she threw as a parting shot.
His friends were all laughing. Idiots, the lot of them! Adi glared at Dhruv, "What was the need to involve her, you idiot?" Dhruv raised his eyebrows suggestively and looked around at his friends, "Oh! Adi's feeling all hot and bothered that I involved Maithili. Why might that be, I wonder? Guys, any suggestions?" "Maybe, he's in luu..rrrr…vvvee," sang Kookie. They all laughed and Adi looked at them, feeling intensely irritated "Gone insane have you? Stop laughing. I don't see what's funny. Kookie, shut up" Kookie giggled, "Oh! Adi, the look on your face, it was just so funny," she laughed some more. "Seriously Adi," Divya told him smiling, "you looked like you wanted to strangle Maithili" I feel like strangling you at the moment! "Dhruv, you also looked hilarious with your mouth open," she told Dhruv, "when she said all that stuff about Liverpool." "Oh! please, she doesn't know what she's talking about," said Dhruv archly. Adi nodded. "And, this just proves what I've always maintained," he told them superiorly, "Girls just don't understand jack about football. Imagine supporting Chelsea! Gah!" Kookie protested, Divya backed her up, Dhruv took them on and they all enjoyed the remaining part of their lunch time break, good naturedly teasing each other.
Should have guessed he would be a ManU supporter! Typical! Maithili smiled as she walked back to her office, yes, she loved football and she was a crazy fan of Chelsea FC. She wore their jerseys all the time (not to college, of course), watched all their matches, scanned the newspapers for soccer news first thing in the morning, logged on to soccernet at least ten times a day to check out the latest events, the rumors, played fantasy football, the works….she was quite crazy really. As she entered her office, she heard slight voices coming through from inside Janki Devi's cabin. 'Looks like Mr. Mehra is still here' she thought, taking her seat.
Sometime later, Janki Devi came outside, Mr. Mehra close behind her, they both looked grim, "Maithili," said Janki Devi, "I am going out for a meeting. Take messages for me, I do not wish to be disturbed on my cell phone until 5 pm." "Okay Ma'am," Maithili nodded at her employer. As they walked out, she saw Janki Devi trip on the edge of the carpet and she jumped up quickly, "Ma'am, look out", she called out, rushing towards her. But Mr. Mehra had quickly caught hold of her arm, thus preventing her from loosing her balance. She saw them exchange a quick glance, then Janki Devi shrugged off Mr. Mehra's arm with a low muttered "thanks" and walked out quickly. Mr. Mehra followed her after a moment. "Well, at least they didn't kill each other", she thought with a smile.
She didn't realize how quickly the time flew until Pragati walked in with her bag and books signaling that it was time to leave. "Where's Janki Ma'am?" asked Pragati, coming over to stand close to her desk. "Gone for a meeting with Mr. Mehra," Maithili told her smiling. "What? Why are you smiling Maithili," asked Pragati. "Nothing, it's just I've never seen any two people who detest each other more. Wonder how they can stand being in the same room for a meeting, is all!" Pragati raised her eyebrows and shrugged. "So, Maithili, have you shut down your computer or not. Come on, it's time to leave." "Just give me two minutes Pragati, I'll just finish this document and then we can leave."
As they walked through the grounds towards the gate, Pragati smiled and poked Maithili in the side lightly, "Look, there's your favourite Mehra." Maithili grinned and poked her back, "I don't know what you're talking about." "For four days, class was so peaceful without him, then he comes back and we have arguments about every issue in every class, I swear one of these days, he's going to get it from the Professors. And how much he flirts in class Maithili, Oh God! Earlier, it was Taneesha, then it was Vedika, then it was Drishti, then it was Meera, now apparently, it's Natasha. That boy is too much, honestly!" Pragati told her. "Oh! come on Pragati, you are so biased against him," she answered absently, her eyes drawn towards Adi standing with his friends, his arm around Natasha Malhotra, the hottest girl in college. "You know Maneet nah! my assignment partner, a few days ago he was telling me that Natasha and Adi are a couple. He saw them getting very cosy a few days ago at the movies," Pragati continued. Maithili looked at them, very cosy indeed! That girl was almost plastered to Adi, why did she have to cling to him like that? Had she forgotten how to stand on her own two feet? What's your problem Maithili? And Adi, did he have to look so smug, so pleased…like a…like a cat who had just found a huge jug of double whipped cream. Yes, but why does that bother you Maithili! "So what Pragati," she said trying to sound nonchalant but aware that that picture in front of her eyes was disturbing in some manner, "you know Adi, he's always got a new girl on his arm all the time. So what? I mean how does that affect our lives? Come on Pragati." She just wanted to move away from there and she tugged at Pragati's arm.
Pragati threw a last glance at Adi and his friends and turned back to Maithili, "Well, one thing I must say, those two deserve each other, both of them are so obnoxious." "Adi's not so bad," Maithili responded automatically, "he's quite a nice guy actually." Pragati put her arm round Maithili's shoulder, "Maithili, if I'm biased against him, then you are becoming too very pro-Vikram Aditya Mehra, and that is very worrying." Maithili rolled her eyes. Pragati smiled and continued, "Just look at him, a cigarette in his hand, arm around a girl, I'm sure there's alcohol in his car, is this fit behaviour for a college?" Maithili didn't know what compelled her to try and say something in his favour, it wasn't that she approved of everything he did, for example, she did not approve of him smoking on the college grounds and definitely she did not approve of that snooty Natasha! but somehow she didn't want to listen to one sided criticism of Adi, especially when he was not around to defend himself. "But Pragati, college is over and he's actually standing outside the grounds, in the car park, you don't know he has alcohol in his car, further, that's his personal life, why should we comment?" "Maithili, why are you sounding like his attorney-in-chief? Just how much do you know him anyway? If I didn't know better, I would think you are also falling prey to his good looks and charm?" Pragati sounded concerned.
"Pragati, don't be silly," she told her patiently, "you know I don't place too much importance on looks and all that. I've told you before also that I have seen an Adi who's not like the Adi that everybody sees. I know he's quite spoilt and is arrogant and throws his weight around a lot etc but Pragati, there are so many other facets to him, for one, he's such a loving and caring son, Pragati, that itself says a million things about him, come on, you have seen him with his mother and oh! What's the point, no matter what I tell you, you will not believe me, forget it." Pragati looked at her "It's not that I don't trust your judgement, Maithili, you know I do, but somehow with Vikram Aditya, I don't know Maithili, when I see him, I always get a negative feeling about him, he's done all these things and….. and you suddenly have had a 360 degree change of thought where he's concerned, so, I'm just confused I guess. Anyway, like you said, why are we talking so much about him?" Maithili raised her eyebrows and shrugged, "you're the one who started this my friend!" Pragati nodded ruefully, "I just feel very worried that you are getting way too enamoured of Vikram Aditya Mehra. Just be careful okay. You know he's way out of your league, don't you?" Maithili tweaked Pragati's hair, "Yes, Daadima, don't worry so much. It's not good for your blood pressure" Pragati laughed and they walked on, speaking of other things as they made their way to the bus stop.
Since her Dadaji was still not back from their village, where he had gone for some work, Maithili decided to walk to a nearby restaurant and parcel some food back. She felt too lazy to cook right now. She almost wished she had taken Pragati up on her offer and gone ahead to Pragati's house for dinner. But she hadn't wanted to barge in on Pragati and Ankit like that. After all, they were still "very newly married" and they would want to be alone. She thought about Pranay, he had told her last week that he would be very busy for the next ten days with his book events, of course he had also told her that he was so happy that he was going to be spending so much time with Mallishka. She smiled ruefully, shaking her head. No, it was not surprising that Pranay was telling her about Mallishka but what had really surprised her was her acceptance of that fact. There had been no teary moments, no moments of depression, no moping about and she found that strange. I'm so weird! Maybe I'm emotionally retarded or something! 'Was she getting over Pranay?' she thought sadly. Could she be getting over Pranay so easily, wasn't love supposed to hurt more, wasn't she supposed to feel more crushed, wasn't it supposed to be the most difficult to get over one's first love? Pranay had always been very special to her since they were very young and she'd thought that it was a natural progression for their affection from childhood to grow into love. But, she could see now that it was not such a natural progression for Pranay. After all, you could not force somebody to love you. Whoever said 'Trying to make someone fall in love with you is about as pointless as trying to control who you fall in love with' got it absolutely right, she thought sadly. She had thought long and hard about this and the only thing she had come up with was that she had to accept the sad fact that Pranay did not feel anything for her apart from friendship. But he still was her dearest friend apart from Pragati and as much as she disliked Mallishka, she had to try and reconcile herself to the two of them being together, Pranay's friendship was too precious to throw away just because she had feelings for him which he did not reciprocate. At least she had two friends whom she could always count on, she thought, Pragati and Pranay. And Adi! She smiled, her spirits lifting slightly, 'yes, she could count on Adi as well.' Somehow she just knew it. Count your blessings Maithili, Life is too short to worry about the things you can't have! 'I'm carefree,' she thought, raising her eyes to the ebony sky above, glittering with stars, 'and alive,' she could feel the wind blowing through her hair, 'and it's such a beautiful night….with the promise of a bright new dawn'…she let the beauty of her surroundings encompass her, 'there's so much I should be happy about, so much I should look forward to!' Suddenly, she heard a sharp yelp from a nearby alley, a pause and then a succession of high pitched yelps. 'An animal in pain,' she thought with dismay and turned and ran towards the source of the sound.
As she came closer, she saw three guys kicking a little dog, one of them brandishing a long thin metal rod and she flew into a rage. Nothing upset her more than people who ill treated animals. "Stop it! Just stop it right now," she shouted loudly, moving towards them. The boys, for they seemed about her age, glanced at her and then one of them, tallish with a sneering face, came closer to her, "Just leave from here, it's none of your business" She glared at him "Just stop ill treating that dog right now or…." "Yes! Or what huh? What will you do?" He came close to her menacingly, his eyes glinting in the dim street lights, "Consider it your good fortune that I'm letting you leave. Scram," he told her, looking at her assessingly. The little dog gave another painful howl and without thinking, she flung herself into the midst of the fray pulling the dog protectively against her. As she bent over the doggie, she felt a searing pain on her shoulder and she cried out in pain, her other hand moving automatically to cover her head. She could feel the guy moving to hit her again and she flinched, trying to hunch herself around the doggie, crying out for help. It was quite deserted, the lane, there seemed to be no one around. The second hit when it came almost had her reeling with pain, 'What should I do now?' she thought despairingly. The three guys were standing around her and laughing coarsely. "Stop", she told them, looking at them and trying for her most authoritative tone, "why are you doing this?" "Because we can," the guy who had spoken to her earlier said with a sneer, "does that satisfy you?" She saw him raise the rod again and this time rolled aside quickly. Through the corner of her eyes, she saw the headlights of an approaching car. Thank God! As the rod came crashing down on the ground next to her, she scrambled to her feet haphazardly, the little dog in her arms and started running towards the approaching car, waving one arm in the air, her breath coming in short sobs as she heard the footsteps of the guys right behind her. The car came to a halt right in front of her, the tyres squealing against the loose gravel as if in protest against the sudden brakes that the driver must have applied. She placed one hand on the car, it was hot but she couldn't feel it, she bent and tried to regain her breath quickly. "What the hell are you trying to prove?" an angry voice reached her ears as the driver stepped out with a loud oath, "What do you mean by rushing up to……. Maithili! ....Good God!.... Maithili, is that you, what on earth…? Hearing that voice, Maithili jerked straight from where she was leaning against the car, trying to get her breath back in control, one hand curved around the doggie and one hand just below her throat.
"Adi," she whispered, a mixture of shock and relief in her voice, "thank god! .....oh! .. ....thank god!...Adi,…...these…guys…" She saw him take in the situation through narrowed eyes. "Aye, you," the sneering guy pointed at Adi, "move away with your fancy car and leave us be. Or else, we are three of us and you are just alone, remember that." Muttering a low oath, Adi caught Maithili's arm tightly and pulled her along to his car, opening the door, "Get in" he told her curtly, his eyes roaming over her face silently, before coming to rest on the little dog who was shivering in her arms. "But Adi…" "Shut up and get in Maithili," he interrupted her angrily, bundling her into the car. She looked at him warily, he looked absolutely furious as he shut the door with a bang. She watched him walk up to the other guys who were having a whispered conversation whilst glancing in their direction. She saw him walk coolly between them and gesture towards her. They were saying something and suddenly Adi caught hold of the sneering guy by his neck and roughly shoved him off. The guy stumbled and fell. The other two guys rushed at Adi and punches were being thrown around. Oh no! I should help him! She kept the doggie on the other seat carefully, wondering whether she could use his cell phone which was in the car to call for help when she caught a movement beyond Adi. She paled as she saw the sneering guy pick up the rod and slowly creep up behind Adi. No! Her mind went terrifyingly blank for a second before she reacted, jumping out of the car and rushing towards them screaming "Adi, watch out, behind you," Adi reacted instantly, nimbly stepping aside, causing the other guy to bring the rod mistakenly on his own comrade. The guy screamed. "Get inside the car dammit Maithili," Adi shouted at her over the head of the sneering guy, his hand twisting the guy's hand, trying to wrestle the rod from him. Suddenly a police siren sounded very close by, the wailing of the siren getting closer by the second. The sneering guy shouted something at his comrades, dropped the rod, pulled away from Adi's grip and started running in the opposite direction. With one glance at her, Adi started to run after him. "Adi come back," she shouted after him, "Adi, just come back please,." She looked all around to find the source of the siren, it really sounded very very close. But she couldn't see anything. She turned to see the three figures running around the corner at the end of the lane and Adi ….Adi was walking towards her, his eyes flashing, his face set in an angry line. As Adi walked towards her, she noticed that the sounds of the siren were starting to fade. 'Must be on the parallel road,' she mused absently, 'should we try and look for it?' Adi walked up to her, his face grim, his shirt half out of his jeans, hair slightly mussed. 'I've never seen him so untidy,' she thought suddenly, feeling lightheaded now that everything was okay.
"What the hell was going on here?" He looked absolutely furious. "Maithili, I'm asking you, what were you doing here? What in god's name were you doing walking your dog here?" She felt like everything was catching up to her suddenly, her head was throbbing, her shoulder was aching, her arm was feeling curiously numb and she was feeling perilously close to tears. She could remember the absolute relief she had felt on seeing Adi, it was almost as if she'd conjured him up, she didn't want him to be so angry with her. "And I had told you to sit in the car, who asked you to come out? Answer me dammit" He had his hands on her shoulders now and was shaking her hard, she couldn't help the cry of pain that escaped her lips, her shoulder was aching so badly. He dropped his hands instantly, concern replacing his anger, "Sorry, Maithili, I'm sorry, But, I need to know….. what happened here Maithili? Tell me," he asked her softly, "did those bas***ds hurt you in any manner? Tell me please." His concern and suddenly soft voice unnerved her, "It's not you, oh Adi!, it's just that…….." she told him everything that had happened since she walked into the alley, watching his face grow grimmer as she spoke. She was crying, she realized, tears were running unchecked past her cheeks. But she couldn't stop.
Adi looked at her as she softly narrated her experience, her voice slightly shaking. He didn't think he could forget how horrified he had been to see Maithili standing there in front of his car, in that narrow alley with those hooligans after her, sweet innocent Maithili who probably had never even hurt a fly, at the mercy of those bas***ds. He wasn't a religious guy but he quickly sent up a fervent thanks to whoever was responsible for his cutting through this particular lane on his way back from Dhruv's house. He had just wanted to save some time and as this part of the way was pretty isolated, he knew he would get home quicker than by using the main expressway. 'What if I hadn't come this way,' he thought suddenly with dismay, his fists clenching instinctively. Little idiot! Who asked her to come this way anyway! Adi loved dogs himself, he had three at home, he knew he would have done the same as Maithili, he would have stopped those creeps from harming the dog. But it's different for me! I can handle them! She can't! They had hurt her, he suddenly realized as she spoke haltingly, touching her shoulder gently, alarmed by the pure rage that flew through his body at the image of those bas***ds hitting her, hurting her. He closed his eyes for a moment stunned by the force of his anger. Shit!
When he opened his eyes, he saw that she was holding her right shoulder in pain, a grimace on her face. Without thinking, he reached out and touched her shoulder gently. She stopped speaking and looked up at him questioningly. Ignoring the sudden frantic pounding in his heart, he reached out to touch her skin for the very first time! She was trembling slightly, he realized, as he slowly moved her sleeve slightly off her right shoulder in order to gauge how hurt she was. Hell! My fingers are trembling! As he looked at the pale smooth shoulder under his fingers and saw the dark coloured bruise marking her skin, he clenched his jaw, feeling perversely angry that he hadn't stopped this from happening somehow. If he ever saw those low lives again, he would take them apart piece by piece with his own hands, God help him! He looked at her, she was still looking silently at him, tears flowing down her cheeks. He covered her shoulder again and bent and picked up her chunri which had fallen to the ground. He held the chunri to her silently, trying to get rid of the guilt that had suddenly sprung up within him. I should have prevented this! She took it from him, looking up at him. He raised his hand and wiped the tears gently from her cheeks, "Don't cry Maithili, don't cry please, it's okay now, see it's okay, stop crying," he said absently, pulling her gently into his arms and closing his arms protectively around her. He moved his hand over her head soothingly, whispering words of comfort softly. After a while, she pulled away slowly No! stay, it feels so right! and looked up at him, her eyes huge in her oval face, her lashes drenched with tears, her nose red. Even like this, she was lovely! "Thanks Adi," she whispered softly, "thanks so much, I don't think I was ever so relieved as when I saw you here tonight. I don't know what to say, how to express my thanks, I'm too drained right now but I'll never ever forget how you helped me here today" She smiled at him softly and he stood still looking at her, mixed feelings coursing through him, joy that she was alright, that he had been able to help, anger that he couldn't prevent her from being hurt, troubled by the realization that this girl could inspire such strong emotions within him so easily, so effortlessly. "I'll drop you home", he told her quietly, she nodded and they walked back to his car, his mind caught in a whirlwind of thought and emotion.
As he drove her towards her house, he glanced at her, she was cuddling the little dog, patting his head and speaking to him softly. "Maithili," he called and she looked up at him, "so are you going to keep him?" She nodded, a half smile on her face, "There's no collar or indication of ownership, so I guess I will, I only hope my Dadaji will not object." "And what about your dinner? Do you want to pick something up like you had planned, I can stop somewhere, you tell me?" he asked her. She shook her head, "No, Adi, suddenly, I don't find myself to be very hungry, I'll just have some bread or fruit or something. I want to feed this little one, I've never had a dog before, I'm quite excited about it actually." "I have three dogs at home," he told her and smiled at the transparent pleasure on her face as she beamed at him, "Really, three dogs, oh! you are so lucky Adi. What are their names?" "Tristan, Percival and Pluto" "Wow! That's a mixed bag, cool names," she told him smiling, "I'm planning to name him Achilles" "So, is that a Brad Pitt fixation or are you a Greek mythology aficionado?" She laughed, "Maybe, a bit of both" she told him. He grinned and stopped the car outside the apartment she indicated. "Shall I walk you up?" he asked her as he opened the door for her. "No," she smiled, "it's just this house right here, thanks for everything Adi, really, if you hadn't come…" "Shh…hhh," he wagged a finger gently, "don't even think about that, it's all okay now, so don't think about it. But Maithili, please, for God's sake, don't wander around alone at night like this okay, stay away from such lanes and alleys, please, I want you to promise me that you won't" A soft smile crept up her face, "You know, Vikram Aditya Mehra, you are really really sweet" Sweet! Nah! Before he could object forcefully to this pansyish adjective, she leaned forward and hugged him, kissing him softly on his cheek, taking all the wind out of his sails and leaving him utterly paralysed for a moment. "Thanks Adi", she whispered, smiling as she walked away with the dog clasped in her arms.
He watched her go, his hand slowly reaching for his cheek, Was I dreaming or did that really happen? A slow smile spread across his face I was not dreaming! The tumult in his mind cleared suddenly. He didn't want to analyse anything. No Sir! All he knew was that he didn't want to fight this anymore, he wasn't going to fight this anymore, this wasn't random any longer, this was real, Maithili had somehow gotten under his skin and he could no longer ignore that. Hell! He didn't wanna ignore it any longer! Blast Pranay, Blast Natasha, blast everyone else, he was going to explore these feelings for Maithili, this attraction, this protectiveness, this affection, he needed to explore it. He didn't want to stay away from Maithili or stop thinking about her. It was anyway too late for that Adi! Admit it! He grinned. He thought about what his Daadu had told him once, "Adi, remember this saying –'You can close your eyes to the things you do not want to see but you cannot close your heart to the things you do not want to feel'" So apt! As he pulled out of Maithili's apartment block and turned onto the road, he switched on the music, conscious of a feeling of elation creeping through him, a happiness that he really did not want to sit and analyse. Not just now. Just move with the flow Adi! Don't think!
That's it for now. have a great weekend 😊
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