Hello guys... no ande tamatar for being sooo late... I don't like tomatoes and I am a pure vegetarian to have eggs :-P :-D
Here is the next chapter... and quite a long one... am warning before. Hope no one minds it...
Here I go giving a break to my bad-bad...
CHAPTER 6
Nidhi was standing on the road when Sammy's car came to a halt in front of her. He greeted her and she responded with equal fervour. After a while getting in the car they drove off for the college.
Ashu had just rushed down from the stairs in a haste. He wanted to be there today on the time when Nidhi leaves for college. He had seen her standing on the roadside and rushed out to meet her. He had just opened the door when he saw Andrew, his neighbour cum buddy standing in front of him.He smiled as he greeted Ashu sweetly and pulled him in a hug. He had gone to make a quick trip to his home in Milan and returned the same morning, and the first thing he did after coming back was to meet Ashu. Ashu smiled as he hugged him back and they engaged in a small talk sitting on the couch in his living room. Ashu was looking at his watch every couple of minutes and the moving needles of the watch increased his restlessness. He didn't want to miss the chance now to ask her about her absence on the terrace last night. He was so restless last night that sleep didn't even try to wander near his eyes, leave them to droop down with the same. He had woken the moment streaks of dawn hit the ground and got ready till 6:30 am. To pass the time he made himself numerous mugs of coffee. Unconsciously he was dying to meet her again... although the heart in his body didn't register the excitement to meet her, but a part of his brain was surprised at himself... He was not able to understand why his mind is so after her... Why he is always so excited to meet her even when they barely know each other... not even a month had passed since they met and he has started to look forward to grab every chance he can which he gets to meet her, talk to her, smile and laugh with her, watch her do her stupid silly yet heart warming antics. A smile crept up his lips as he remembered jersey sweet antics, her pouts, her smiles.
He was knocked out of his thoughts by a her to his body. He felt Andrew shaking him to bring him back to the present. He looked at him embarrassed at himself.
"What happened bro...Where and what are you lost in" Andrew asked him.
"No buddy...nothing... was just thinking about a complicated case." he lied.
"Oh... buddy you must be getting late... I will take your leave." and he left. Ashu hurried away the minute Andrew disappeared in the door of his flat. Locking the door he hurried through the staircase only to be left disappointed. The scene that unfolded before him again burned his insides. It still had the capability to drive his unconscious mind mad. Nidhi was again laughing with the same boy and today her hand was pressed in his in a handshake... which only broke the moment they got in the car and also brought him out of his stupor. He tried to go to stop her but they were gone. 'All the waking up and getting ready early ent into drains' he thought. He started his bike in a fit of bad temper and zoomed off. He had wanted to talk to her... His mind was constantly drifting towards their small tiff from the last day and her not coming to meet him on the terrace.
Nidhi with Sammy entered the college premises. Sammy and she had become very good friends. A sweet bond had formed between them and being from different countries, cultures and lifestyles... and even their languages being not the same had not affected it. In fact it came as a bonus as they taught each other their languages, laughed off their heads when the other pronounced any word in a funny manner due to the accent they had and told eachother about their different lifestyles. Nidhi had found him to be a genuine and good person and the same was with Sammy. He was a boy who never made a lot of friends but the ones he made were very special to him and close to his heart. Nidhi had from the first day had succeeded to worm her way in his heart with her sweet attitude and smiles, She had a charm about her, about her voice and her zest for life and love for music coupled with her her fun yet strong attitude was a common factor among them and had bonded them into good friends. The day passed with no particular happenings and at noon she entered the cafeteria to munch onto her favourite sandwich. She had just taken a bite in when Sammy and Alison joined her with their ever so smiling faces. Nidhi smiled atctheir sweet greetings and continued chewing on her bite and sipped her coffee. The taste of her favourite beverage calmed her nerves slightly and her mind went back to last night. She had reached home and while Emily and she cooked dinner when the ache in her head which was light since evening started to get worse. She tried to ignore it but it worsened and she somehow finished her work and after having a few morsels slipped in the bed.
She had wanted to go upstairs... For her coffee session with her friend but she couldn't as the pain ate her head and she felt too tired to even move in the bed...let alone climb the umpteen stairs... She felt bad... She even thought to inform him and for the same purpose she peeked out of her main door after dinner only to find his door locked. She guessed he must have moved up so she dropped the idea. She dosen't know what he must have thought or felt when she skipped to meet him. Maybe he had thought that she deliberately didn't show up so just in case she even thought she would get to see him in the morning and she would apologise but she didn't get to and when Sammy came to pick up she wasn't having any choice but to move with him as it was already getting late.
"Nidhi... why are you so quiet today...Am noticing from the morning when I came to pick you up... you look dull... os there anything that is bothering you" Sammy asked worried breaking her link of thoughts.
"Yeah sweetie... even I was to ask the same now..." Ali joined.
"No yaar... nothing serious... just that am having severe migraine pains since last night... I get them sometimes and when they come they just make my life hell" she replied pressing her temple.
"Ohh...sorry to hear that...is it hurting too much" Ali asked.
"Yeah... I feel my head would blast anytime with the pain. Although it's way better than last night... It was so bad at that time that I had literally chewed a few bites of food and gulped them with the help of water... so that I could take my tablet and then I slipped in the bed even before the clock struck 10..."
"Oh... you want to see a doctor..." Ali asked next.
"No no... it's ok... Some 2 years back I found out from my family doc that I am suffering from migraine... so I get these recurring headaches... don't worry... I guess I will be fine by evening or latest by tomorrow morning..."
"Hmmm... hey why don't we do one thing... let's go out for lunch... we aren't having any important lectures for the next half of the day... so lets go... infact Nidhi it will help you to relax yourself" Sammy proposed.
"Out for lunch... I don't think it's a food idea..." Nidhi tried to avoid.
"But..." Sammy was cut by Ali's "Sorry guys... I don't think I will be able to join... My aunt is sick and I have to go to meet her...so... but you guys carry on... Nidhi Sammy is right... go out... it will help you to relax as well as explore the city..." she completed looking towards Nidhi. Nidhi gave in and nodded... Her friends were so sweet and thoughtful for her well being that she couldn't deny them.
~~~~
Ashutosh moved out of the men's store with a few bags in his hand. He had come to shop for a gift for his friend's birthday but then selected a few good shirts and tees for himself too. He was walking through mall doing some window shopping when he spotted a familiar face in a restaurant. The face that he has started to remember... dressed in a purple sleeveless top and blue denims with her hair falling loose on her shoulder. She looked sweet as usual but the shine in her eyes was missing. They seemed dull and her face seemed tired... as if she was ill. Ashu thought it to be a nice chance to talk to her. He walked further to move in the restaurant when he saw a man decked in a leather jacket and jeans moving towards her with a tray containing 2 burgers and cold coffees. He turned took his place in front of her while she smiled seeing him and then shifted beside her after a few minutes and Ashu felt his mind raging. The same man whom now he sees her usually with. He took a step back and left the place gritting his teeth.
"Oh god! Why am I thinking so much. It's her life...She can eat, drink and go out with anyone she likes... I mean she wants. Why am I bothered even... no am not... it's just that I was concerned for her... what if the boy isn't good to be her friend coz the place is still new for her... just nothing else" he mumbled under his breath as he started his bike. He had a half day shift today in the hospital so that means he has a whole day to spend at home with himself and relax. He thought as he brushed her thoughts from his mind and drove off.
Nidhi and Sammy finished their lunch. During the whole time Sammy cracked jokes to distract her from the ache and also succeeded to some extent but then he understood that she needs rest and he dropped her back home. Nidhi after waving him bye started to move towards her flat. Nidhi reached the door only to see it locked. She frowned as she took out her cell to make a call to Emily. Nidhi wondered where she must have gone as she had informed her in the morning that it was her day off. The phone had a switched off message all the number of times she tried to call her. Exasperated she tried to find the key under the doormat and flower pots but in vain. At last she decided to knock on Ashutosh's door to know if Emily had given the keys to him.
"Hi..." she said with a hesitating smile, while Ashu blinked a few times to realise she is here and talking to him.
"Hi... Nidhi tum yaha... is waqt" he said not knowing how to react.
"I am sorry Ashutosh... I am disturbing you... but"
"No Nidhi... you are not... it's just that I was surprised to see u here at this hour... coz we meet at night on the terrace and you didn't come last time..." he cut her words and the last words were before he could stop them.
"I mean... anything special... For which you here..." he said as to mend the damage so that she doesn't feel offended.
"Yeah... I actually wanted to know whether Emily has given you the keys to my house... see my flat is locked and Emily's cell is showing switched off... well also I have forgotten to make a spare key for myself so..." she trailed off.
"Oh... no no... She hasn't... infact main bhi abhi abhi ghar aaya hoon..."
"Oh... ok thanks anyways... you carry on" she replied and turned around to leave.
"Waise Nidhi where will you wait... I mean if you don't a problem you can wait at my home till she comes..." Ashu offered sweetly.
"Are you sure... you won't be disturbed..."
"Nidhi... I guess we are friends now... you helped me with the book I wanted so by this I can do the least for you" he explained gaining a sweet smile from her. She agreed and they moved in.
"BTW... my not coming to the terrace last night was not deliberate as you think... I couldn't make it coz I wasn't well enough to come upstairs..." she replied in a soft tone as she took a seat on the couch.
"Oh.. I didn't knew that..." Ashu was at loss of words... here what he was thinking such nonsense about her not coming while the reason could be this didn't even come to his mind. She smiled feebly.
"You could have informed me or at least texted me..." he said the next instant getting up and moving in the kitchen which changed the smile to surprise. The authority on his tone surprised her but what surprised her more was that she wasn't minding it. She never liked other people other than those close to her commanding her or interfering in her life... but Ashutosh doing the same wasn't irritating her but the concern in his voice made her smile.
"Anyways what had happened to you... you seemed fine till evening... I hope nothing serious..." he said looking at her from the kitchen.
"No... just some migraine...but how could I have informed... I wasn't having the energy to come and tell you personally and as for texting... I could have done that if I had your number..." she said shrugging her shoulders.
"Oh... yeah we haven't exchanged numbers yet... silly me..." he replied with an embarrassed smile. But he rushed to her the next instant when her words registered to him.
"Migraine... Nidhi tumhe migraine hai... god you must be experiencing the taste of hell... right... How are you feeling now" Ashu asked as he handed a glass of water.
"Yeah Ashutosh... I am fine... ab dard theek hai... aaj subah tak kaafi zyada tha ... but now I am really ok" she said genuinely. Going out with Sammy came out to be a good change and her meds contributing to it really did help the ache to lessen.
"That's great to know... you will have something... maybe a big hot mug of coffee will help you relax" he asked in a concerned tone that brought a smile on her face.
"Yeah sure... but on one condition..."
"Condition... what?" he asked.
"I will not sit idle but will help you..."
"No need Nidhi... tumhari tabiyat kharab hai... tum aaram se baitho... I will make it" he argued.
"Toh phir mujhe coffee nahi chahiye..." she replied stubbornly.
"Are par... ok theek hai... as you wish" he said exasperated. He knew arguing with this girl was of no use... He will loose at the en have to back out at last.
She smiled and stood up... keeping her bag on the couch she went behind him to the kitchen. While Ashu took out the milk and other ingredients... Nidhi put some water in the carafe and put it to boil.
"Tumhe kaisi coffee achhi lagti hai..." she asked casually.
"Mujhe sabhi tarah ki coffee pasand hai... but I like latte the most..." he replied leaning on the counter... He was facing her while she was looking at the stove.
"Wow... look another common factor... even I love latte and capuchhino..." she said in a chirpy tone as she felt the water to be boiled. Ashutosh had already kept the milk in the microwave to warm it up and he went to bring it. Nidhi got hold of the ingredients only to mile broadly in surprise.
"Folgers Classic Roast... this is my favourite..." she cried cutely and put some in both the mugs that he had brought with the warmed milk.
"Mine too..." he shrugged smiling while she chuckled. She put 2 spoonful of sugar in one mug while raised her brows at him to ask how much he wanted. He smiled and showed his index finger indicating he wanted a single spoon and she quickly finished preparing it in a few moments. She saw a bottle of chocolate syrup lying on the counter corner and took hold of it before she opened it and made a sweet smiling face on her brewing coffee. The gesture made Ashu chuckle loudly and he shook his head disbelievingly. She smiled and started to make one on his too when he opposed saying he dosen't like his coffee to be too sweet.
"Are but it will enhance the taste... you will love I bet..." she cried.
"Are nahi Nidhi..." he held her hand and pulled at it to stop her. Her body jerked by the sudden pull and bottle slipped from her hand. He and she both bend to pick it up only to realise that he was still holding her wrist and they were standing in a close proximity they never shared before. Nidhi was looking at his face while he couldn't help but gaze at her... looking into those deep brown pools which always carry a sparkle in them... azing deep as if trying to know the reason behind the sparkle. While her eyes resisted to look elsewhere but into his... She admitted she had liked this pair of deep oceans since the first time she laid her eyes on him and now she felt herself drowning into the depths...
Nidhi was the first one to come to her senses and averted her eyes while he left her hand at once coming out of his stupor. Oh god that was embarassing, he thought. He picked the syrup bottle while Nidhi still looked everywhere but him.
"Nidhi... is muskaan ki haqdaar meri coffee bhi hai... is par bhi banao" he tried to lessen the embarassment in the air.
"Nahi... sorry that I tried to force you... I shouldn't have" she apologised.
"No Nidhi... really... I want to taste your smile..." he said without thinking trying to cheer her up. Nidhi's head shot up at his sentence and understanding dawned on him, making the atmosphere more awkward. Aa a result a sweet blush crept up her cheeks.
"I...I didn't mean... that... I mean I want to... Want to taste the smile you wanted to make... on my coffee" he tried to mend the damage and his fumbling brought a chuckle on her lips which turned to a hearty laugh seeing his crimson cheeks. A moment later he joined her and they giggled like two school kids in the kitchen. Ashu couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so heartily...while Nidhi felt so relaxed with the numbing pain in her head that for a second she thought she should have gone to meet him last night and she could have felt like this much before.
He took the bottle and himself tried to draw the smiley and the way he drew the eyes which were nowhere near to the cute round eyes Nidhi had drawn. Nidhi giggled and snatched the bottle from his hand and pushing him aside drew the rest herself... her tongue was poked out in concentration... and Ashu found it to be vey cute... he smiled seeing her returning to her usual bubbly self and stood beside her looking at her... She was one of a kind and she was his friend. A friend who accepts him as he is and who would never judge him... he felt genuinely happy after a long time that he has got what he had been so craving for... a beautiful and true friend which he got in her... He wowed to himself that he would never hurt her or loose this precious friendship of hers.
"Lo ho gaya... so cute naa" she asked still looking at her masterpiece... as if praising her precision in it.
"Dr. Ashutosh you are bad at drawing... tum toh ek biology student hoga naa... then how so bad in drawing... haven't you practiced enough with your diagrams..." she joked as she took her cup and handed him his.
"Ms. Singer... I am a master at biology diagrams... coz there we never needed to make smileys..." he replied and she smiled. They sat on the couch sipping from their mugs.
"You don't like extra sweet coffee... toh phir suddenly yeh chocolate garnishing ke liye kyu maan gaye tum..." she asked.
"Socha ek baar tumhara taste bhi apnaa ke dekh loon... ho sakta hain mujhe pasand aa jaye" he answered sincerely. She looked at him to see the sincerity of his words displayed on his face. She tore her gaze from his face when she heard her cell ringing and seeing Emily's name flashing she took the call.
"I am so sorry Nidz... you must be pissed off at me... I am extremely sorry... It was some personal emergency and I has to go... I just forgot that you don't have extra keys and..." she heard Emily blabbering on the other side of the phone.
"Relax... it's okay... I understand... you need not explain... is everything okay... what was the emergency though... For which you rushed in such a hurry" Nidhi asked while Ashu looked at her as he sipped at his cup. A few seconds later she cut the call with a frown and turned to him. He raised his eyes asking what happened... She sighed.
"Hey Nidhi... sab theek hai na..."
"I do t know Ashutosh... Emily seemed disturbed... her voice was cracking... Infact I feel she had crying a while ago... I hope she is fine..." Nidhi replied with creases of worry on her forehead.
"You don't worry Nidhi... tension lene se kuch nahi hoga. Tumhara Migraine aur badh jaayega...When Emily returns talk to her... when is she coming" he asked.
"She is reaching in a few minutes... Yes you are right... I will make myself sick if I worry unnecessarily...I will talk to her and try to know the reason behind her behaviour... Yaha tum, Emily aur Sammy hi toh mere liye... I would never want that something bad happens to you all..." she replied sincerely while a frown graced his head hearing Sammy's name. 'He must be the same guy Nidhi goes to college with...' He thought. He had completely forgotten to talk to her about him. Nidhi got hold of her bag and Ashu forgot all about the boy again. His heart sunk somewhere in his body. He was so happy a second ago and now when she was going he wasn't feeling right. He was not wanting the moment to end so soon... but if he cannot stop it from ending... He wanted to extend it at least... but he couldn't do much. She smiled at him and he reciprocated just so that she doesn't get to know how was not wanting her to go.
While Nidhi wasn't sailing in any other boat. Somewhere deep her heart felt sad to end the sweet moments and convos the shared right now. She was wanting to hold onto it and it slipped from her hand. She brushed her thoughts when she heard her phone ping and seeing the text from Emily that she has reached... Nidhi moved out with a smile which missed the sparkle it usually had...
How is it guys... I know kaafi zyada lamba ho gaya hai... but this is my compensation to you all for being do late...
Give honest reviews... be positive or negative...
Love u all
Amreen
Edited by Amreen... - 9 years ago
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