Chapter 2
Clichs
Anyone who saw Kabir could clearly see the defeat in his demeanor. Holding on his breath for few minutes outside the door, a tear threatened to damp his cheel as he heard silent sobs from the other side. He knew Ananya was crying but he didn't had any power to stop her from doing so. He didn't want to be the reason of her downfall. "I'm so sorry Ana" He whispered to himself. Retrieving back the mobile Malvika had left in the other room, he quickly adjusted his his clothing and was walking down
the lobby when he spotted his younger brother lazily walking up, "Manav listen" he called out. "Bhai!" Manav curtly exclaimed, quite clearly depicting that he had no interest in talking to his elder brother. "You look more smarter than me" Kabir smiled looking down at him. "I was always smarter Bhai! Please let me go." Manav not wanting to punch his brother on his face, silently stepped aside before slowly walking. "Look! I'm Sorry" Kabir meekly said, not wanting to acknowledge that he'd everything yet nothing. "Bhai! I'm sorry too. But this isn't f**king right you know it too well. Now before I forget, Ronnie is going to come today after your stupid ENGAGEMENT. So if you don't get time from various activities, inform me! I don't want Ronnie standing the airport waiting for his favorite Uncle who never shows up. Bye" Not giving a chance to Kabir to even speak, Manav stormed out to a room.
This was getting worse than ever.
"I can't even abuse my own elder brother "swearing to himself Manav bolted the room he knew Ananya was staying at & the sight made go numb. The girl who he knew was staring at the fan as tears flew down her cheeks continuously." Ananya "He called out,
Sighting Manav at the door All Ananya could do was pick herself up from the floor and hug the man." Manav uncle" He heard her calling him out as she continued hugging him. "I knew this would happen. I knew it, it was all my fault. I could have stopped myself from loving him." Ananya mindlessly babbled as Manav picked her up and lay her on the bed. "But you couldn't . You can't stop yourself from loving someone Ananya. You should at least be proud, you can love darling! People like me can't even feel it and so does my brother. He's a complete Ass, jerk and god knows what" Ananya giggled on hearing Manav 's swear for Kabir. "Now let's get up before someone comes in & finds you wrapped around me. Not that I mind 😉" Manav said winking at his friend's daughter, "But Kabir bhai will throw me out of our house & your father might just shoot me on spot. C' mon let's go in the party, smash the dance floor by some Taylor Swift or Adele songs" Helping her to stand up and in fixing her running down makeup Manav held out his arm to her, "And for mother of love Ananya! Don't call me UNCLE ever again" he spoke graciously as Ananya again giggled.
"Kabir. So what are your other plans now. Don't tell me you are taking retirement. You've recently turned 40." Khalid's chirping voice made Kabir more irritated then he initially was, he was having a real hard time controlling the urge to leave his own engagement party but that would bring the whole attention of the British media to his house which he last wished for. "I've few concerts to do." He replied. "Oh! My God Sudhir, have to ever considered marrying your daughter?" Khalid exclaimed with joy and Kabir wondered as though why was Khalid suddenly so interested in getting Ananya married. "She's a kid. Recently 21,I don't want her to marry her off soon" Sudhir laughed, "But I'm glad over the top glad that my best friend of 6 years is finally going to get laid & enjoy his sex life after a pause " Sudhir lovingly patted Kabir 's back. "Sudhir Please. Where's Anita bhabhi? I thought being Malvika bestie she'll probably come." Kabir not himself knowing what he was speaking asked, "She's at Italy. Attending her fashion shows" Sudhir nodded his head to someone Kabir couldn't see and replied, "There they are. Look how beautiful Ananya looks" Khalid joined his hands in a manner Kabir always found to be quite feminine & slowly turned to see the sight.
"Do I look fine "Ananya nervously hissed in Manav's ears as they walked down the same stairs to hall in the same way Kabir Malvika entered." Absolutely gorgeous. Focus on music "Manav said and both of them posed for the cameras hovering around them.
If Kabir hadn't known his younger brother, he was sure that he could have break hell over on seeing Ananya wrapped so awfully cosy around a man's arm. This couldn't be happening, he wasn't allowed to think about it! About HER.
The gathering hence proceeded forward which was Manav announcing the guests to gather around as the ring exchange ceremony was just about to begin & Kabir stood in the middle of the crowd, being everyone's favorite thing of focus. "Kabir" Malvika quietly said, lifting the simple red suit floor length suit she'd donned for the event. "You don't need to do this. You like her" She gestured over to the place Ananya was standing laughing on something her father had just said. "Malvika" Kabir said as he ran a hand over his tired face, how was he supposed to forget her if every second person on this earth kept him reminding the same over and over again. "Don't Malvika me you Kabir Sharma! It's hurting you deep down inside. Then why this engagement?" Malvika angrily muttered as Kabir snaked a arm around her waist and sneaked her closer. "Just do it for me Malvika please. I can't ruin her. I have no right to love her, what would Sudhir think? And what would the world think? That I Kabir Sharma, the singing sensation of Britain fell for his best friend's daughter. Slip the ring in my finger, 5 months and we'll part our ways "He pleaded her.
" Don't look over there "Trisha slapped Ananya 's arm as she turned to have a glance at Kabir." Thanks for coming "Ananya whispered, not knowing exactly how to react for do anything. A nagging feeling of losing a part of herself was pricking her heart like a throne accidentally piercing someone's hand as they caressed the rose." Oh! Like this old man was going to spare me if I'd not brought my pretty ass here " Trisha rolled her eyes so badly that Manav was sure they'll fall off any time soon yet he chose to remain silent. Silence was important element of the people who he happened to care about.
"Are you okay Princess?" Ananya almost gagged at the mention of her childhood nickname her Father used to call her. "I'm good Papa" Ananya tightened the hold on Manav's arm. Her father always made her uncomfortable beyond measures. "Sudhir Uncle! How are you?" Trisha jumped about few feet in air on seeing her friend's father and asked, some body needed to diverted him. "Good as ever .Manav go announce that Kabir & Malvika's ring ceremony is about to start" Sudhir Kashyap,an elite photographer who'd wealth dripping down his walk & fame on the back of his hands said to Manav. "God Sudhir! Someone really needs to tell you that you could do that yourself. Or least,you should carry a personal servant who can be of your acquirements. And before you start your moral education classes on me, let me tell you. I'm not going to leave your daughter anytime soon all while the function, like you & your beautiful wife did . Hush Hush! Trisha come let's leave" Linking an arm around Trisha's waist as she giggled with a hand clasped over her mouth and Ananya who again didn't knew how to react,Manav started walking off away from known people. "Manav Uncle!" Trisha giggled,purposely addressing him as Uncle,"Did someone tell you you're an complete Asshole." She stated. "Took you so long to realise Trisha" Manav smiled.
"Kabir sir & Malvika Mam! If you two have no mood of exchanging the platinum bands, Can I steal them? Please, I might use them for proposing my dream man. "Trisha's fake sad yet happy face reminded Kabir that he & Malvika hadn't still exchanged the rings. Swiftly taking the perfectly manicured left hand of Malvika, He breathed deeply. Her hands were nothing like that ant sort of what Ananya 's soft and shaky hands used to be. "Don't make us wait for eternity My Friend" Sudhir smiled & finally deciding to go with it, Kabir hurriedly slipped the ring rather carelessly on Malvika' s ring finger. Malvika too repeated the gesture with a smile plastered on her face. 'He thinks he can stop loving the girl, who's simply standing at the gate of his heart. What a utter fool to be! "Malvika mentally exclaimed, as she again felt the flash of cameras being clicked." Engagement of a singer can't be counted if it doesn't has the singer singing out for us" Manav purposely deciding to put his brother on a front march announced over the mike.
"I can't sing! "Kabir looked around, why was everyone looking at him like hungry lion ready to attack his prey." Don't be a spoilsport that you've ever been. "Manav wickedly smiled, eyeing Kabir the piano that Ananya was randomly gazing her fingers on. He'd taught her how to play the piano and seeing her struggling with her conscious to hit the keys, made him weak. So weak that anyone could rob him off of all what he'd, and he wouldn't even make a noise. Ignoring the hooting & hauling that the guests bestowed upon him, Kabir adjusted on the piano bench & took a deep breath.
'How could he sing this song, this song that she'd written in her virtual diary only a few moments ago 'Ananya looked in horror as Kabir effortlessly mesmerised the audience with the old hindi song he generally didn't sing.
"CHALO EK BAAR
PHIR SE...
AJNABEE BANN JAE HUM DONO..
CHALO EK BAAR
PHIR SE
AJNABEE BANN JAE HUM DONO...
NA MAI TUMSE KOI UMEED RAKHU..
DIL NAWAZI KI..
NA TUM MERI TARAF DEKHO..
GALAT ANDAAZ NAZRO SE...
NA MERE DIL KI DHADKAN..
LADKHADAE MERI BAATAE MAE...
NA ZAAHIR HO..
TUMHARI KASHMASH KA..
RAAZ NAZRO SE..
CHALO EK BAAR PHIRSE AJNABEE
BANN JAE HUM DONO... "
Kabir closing his eyes, poured himself in the deepness the song was trying to potray. He quiet clearly remembered Ananya once telling him that, lyrics speaks mostly what a person can't.
And he couldn't even take a glance at her.
Her! Whom he loved. Who was his inspiration. Who was the only bleak of light in his darkness. Who was his star & sun.
"TUMHE BHI KOI ULJHAN
ROKTI HAI
PESHKADMI SE..
MUJHE BHI LOG KEHTE HAI...
KI..
YEH JALWAE PAYARAE HAI
MERE HUMRAH BHI
RUSWAAIYA HAI
MERE MAAZI KI...
MERE HUMRAH BHI
RUSWAAIYA HAI
MERE MAAZI KI..
TUMHARE SATH BHI GUZRAE HUE RAATO KE SAAYAE HAI...
CHALO EK BAAR PHIR SE"
"What does this meant? "Malvika elbowed Manav, rather strongly cause the drink he was holding was about slip from his hand." Wow! BHABHI. I mean look at your fianc. Did it ever crossed your mind. That your would be husband is PhD in urdu? He uses urdu words like air. And you don't know this song's lyrics? I thought only I'd a bad choice in women "Manav stared at Malvika," Mr. MANAV, you either tell me the meaning or you go f**k yourself, giving us a huge show to irk on" Malvika buzzed him out. "Ruswaayia means Badnami & MAAZI means past. Malvika Sherlock Prasad solve the rest on your own." He resuming the pattern of watching his brother & Ananya look by look, waved her off...
"TARUF ROG HO JAE..
TOH ISKO BHULNA..
BEHTARR...
TALUKK BHOJJ BANN JAE
TOH USKO TODNA ACCHA...
VO AFSAANAA...
JISSE...
ANJAAM TAK..
LANA NA HO MUMKIN..
VO AFSAANAA JISSE..
ANJAAM TAK..
LANA NA HO MUMKIN..
USSE EK..
KHOOBSURAT MOD DE KAR..
CHHODNA ACCHA...
CHALO EK BAAR PHIR SE..
AJNABEE BANN JAE
HUM DONO.. "
The Oakwood Hotel, situated at the serene Branford, yes the city most know for being the hometown of Zayn Malik. Was now being echoed with the appeasing sounds of claps.
Kabir as he stood in there as the main center of attraction could exactly differentiate between the claps. Some were clapping cause they were impressed, some were clapping out of jealously, envying him for the voice he had. Not that he was a narcissist. But the one person who earlier used to jump in frenzy while clapping for him at the various concerts he took her at was now furiously yet slowly yet most loudly clapping for him. Daring to look at the eyes he knew he'd brought many floods he lifted his head.
His heart was in his throat, she was crying. Without fearing about what others would say, there stood the Ananya he'd built up.
"Princess why are you crying? "Sudhir draped his free hand around his daughter," So is it so Daddy! Blame it on the song & your fantastic friend who sang it "Ananya licked her dry lips & immediately wiped her face franticly. She could show him that games are always played by two. If he could act like a stranger. Mother of f**k! She could also show him who he was dealing with." Daddy, I'm leaving. Give me the keys! "Hearing the lack of emotion in her daughter's voice, Sudhir wanting to not create a scene at party simply handed him each and every key he had.
" Stupid Party! Stupid Ananya "Ananya muttered to herself, as she climbed the stairs. She'd so foolishly forgot her clutch in the room bringing along only phone. All was good. Correction all's well if it ends well.. But being the sack of black luck that her fate was. Ananya 's pointed hell twisted, making her go all down the stairs in a rather bollywood style.
She was sure she looked like some heroine falling from stairs like Yash Chopra' s saga. Save the fact,that she didn't faint.
"Are you okay? "She heard a dark baritone, same that had made laugh at some nights & watched yuck romcoms along with her. To her, her world stopped as she felt large calloused hand lingering on back.
Strangers!
If looks could burn, Kabir was confirmed that the look that Ana sorry Ananya gave him after spotting his hand on her back and head was enough to make him turn into ashes. "I'm fine Mr. SHARMA!" Ananya whispered, the conversation being audible only to them. He still couldn't know why hadn't Sudhir ran faster than him to see his daughter. Was Ananya right all along?. "Back to first name business aren't we" Kabir said gently removing his hands. "Good night to you too Mr. SHARMA." Ananya gracefully smiled before slipping over to Manav. Sighing Kabir brought his hand to his hairs, but why were his hand so sticky.
"I'm feeling Wobbly "Ananya said before loosing her consciousness,and falling on Manav, a trail of blood dripping down her head from left.
Yash Chopra is always right. Don't ever underestimate him.
" You don't f**king get to help her, especially when you're only the sole reason she's in this state today Bhai! "Manav hissed to him, as Kabir lost the control over himself and was trying to help his brother in picking up Ananya.
For the first time in one month, Kabir ignoring his mind followed Manav right upto the hospital.
f**k you heart!
A/N
Kaise hai sab? Majja ma?
So I too am a firm believer that songs speaks what you can't. Hence each chapter will be having a song. Don't forget to comment.
-Niharika & Prateeksha.
Jhanak
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