*Ishq Junoon Dewaangi#2* New Thread link Pg145 - Page 23

Vaibhavi called Arjun. "Anything else?"

"Nothing yet. Maybe you can once you're in India?"

"Hmm! 'Kay."

***

Vaibhavi met Rey, as planned, at 10:00. They discussed the further plans in mute voice. "So the tickets are booked for February 10^th."

"Great. Timing?" Rey asked getting up.

"Evening. 6:15. I'll mail the tickets to everyone today itself."

"Sounds good. Anything for me?" he asked.

"Yea, um, this address. It's outside the mailing range so can you deliver or have someone do it?"

He looked at it and instantly recognized it as Kriya's home address.

"It's Kriya's." he whispered.

"Yea, how'd you know?"

He pretended to not hear that question and instead reply, "Don't worry. I'm going that way today. I'll drop by and give it to her." He hadn't planned to go that way. But after the way she acted last night, a new ray of hope had raised inside of him.

***

After he left the auditorium, he took off straight for Kriya's house.

Kriya was in the room cleaning it and putting things where they belonged. She came across a photo frame of her mother holding two babies in hospital.

She smiled looking at it and picked it up.

*FLASH-BACK*

Kriya took him to the room that was locked up. Opening it, she moved aside offering that he enter first. Rey entered the room and saw picture frames all over the room hanging on all four walls.

Kriya's mom with Kriya as a child; Smriti and Gaurav holding hands; a snap in the hospital; photo of Smriti holding two babies in hospital smiling at the camera; kissing the babies forehead; a snap of Gaurav spoon-feeding the babies and tons of other pictures till around the age of 2 years old.

He was surprised pleasantly looking at the pictures. He understood that she was telling the truth. He asked, "What happened?" as he picked up the frame where Smriti was holding them.

She replied, "They met at dance academy. Fell in love; got married; had us; happy life. But then dad had to leave house more often for functions, performances, choreography, etc. etc. mom quit dancing to take care of us but she got sad as well not having him there when she needed him. It didn't work out. They split up. Dad took Sharon and mom had me'"

Rey looked at her not knowing what to reply. She continued, "Mom didn't tell me and would never talk about dad. I had no idea I had a sister older than me. Not till a year ago when she started getting sicker. Weakness, migraines, dizziness, etc. doctor said it was cancer and no way out of it."

"Fearing that she was soon going to die, she told me. Everything." She paused for a second and breathed heavily suddenly feeling the need to. "I ' I was mad. Of course. She didn't tell me until then! But then I couldn't blame her. I understood that she was only trying to protect me. Prevent me from getting hurt. She wanted to see them before'" she trailed off.

"I'm sorry'" he interrupted and said sympathetically.

"For what?" she asked not getting what his sympathy was towards.

"For her loss. I know you would miss her a lot'"

She interrupted surprised, "Whoa! Who said she was dead?!"

"She's not?" he asked surprised. "But you just'"

"You didn't let me complete. She isn't dead. She's just getting recovered. Some team from America had come and they did some operation. She was saved."

"Oh! I thought' well, never mind, I'm glad. But why haven't you told Sharon yet?"

She shrugged. "I guess I'm waiting till she's ready to trust me' I don't want her to get hurt." She paused and then asked him, "Can I trust you?"

"You can' you know that! But'"

"But?" she asked afraid of what he might say.

"But I don't know if I can help. I mean she's my best friend. I don't want to lie to her." He admitted.

She understood and immediately answered, "Then don't. I understand Rey. You do what you have to. Just let me be the one to tell her'" hearing this, Rey didn't feel much guilty. He smiled and looked at her. She looked back at him and then at the photo's around her. Her heart did feel light after telling him.

***

*FLASH-BACK ENDS*

Kriya remembered the whole incident and smiled at how she had trusted him. Only if' her thoughts were interrupted by a door bell. She put the frame down and went to open the door.

***

"Hi!" Rey greeted her with a smiled as she opened the door.

"Uh... hi. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I can even come in?" he asked mockingly.

"Uh sure'" she moved feeling embarrassed and let him come in. she went and brought him a glad of water. Setting the tray on the table, she sat down on the couch.

After taking a sip, he handed her the envelope saying, "I came here to give you give."

She opened it to find the tickets to India. She read the date and time out loud to herself.

"Yea, a little over a week." He confirmed. "And a few other details." He said taking out another small envelope and gave it to her.

She read them and after a while, he asked, "No one's home?"

She raised her brows to look at him and gave a 'Are-you-seriously-asking-that?' look. He shrugged and she replied, "If you realize, it's a weekday. People go to work, you know. And as for Karan, well, he's entertaining himself." It was a matter of fact answer.

"Oh, yea. Right." He replied feeling silly. Then, a burning scent hit then both and they smelled to make sure it was burning smell they smelled.

"Is that you lun'?" he asked and trailed off as she rushed to the kitchen as she suddenly realized she had left her lunch on the stove to cook.

She turned the stove off and picked it up safely and moved it aside with a cloth.

"Damn it!" she cursed as it had completely burned.

Rey smiled as an idea hit him. "Well, now it's all burnt." He said grinning.

She shot him a look and said, "Yea, rub it in." she said with sarcasm in her voice.

"If you want, you can join me for lunch." He suggested.

She was still freaked out and she replied not realizing what he had just said. "Like you learnt how to cook!"

He smiled remembering the time when he had invited her for dinner once and he had bought things from a restaurant to impress her. He had hid that fact from her but she had found the bags from the hotel in the trash can and he had been busted.

"I don't." he replied. "I'm going out for lunch."

She then realized he had asked her out for lunch. She tried to hide her nervous and confused look. "No'uh'it's okay. I'll make something quick."

"I don't bite'' he suggested hoping to convince her. She laughed hearing that and nodded. "Alright. Give me a minute." She wiped her hands on the cloth and exited the kitchen.

Rey waited eagerly for her to come down. She was softening towards him and he couldn't miss that. Nothing else could have made him happy.

***

Kriya looked around the place while sitting on the velvet red couch. Rey sat in front of her and they were by the corner. Rey spoke up examining her, "Kriya, you sure you are comfortable?"

"Yea, yea." She replied instantly. "I'm fine. Just fine."

Rey chuckled. "You're getting nervous."

"I'm not!" she defended.

Rey passed her a look that said, 'Who are you trying to fool?' She understood the look and sighed. She put the fork down on the plate and said, "Uhm' we're just here for lunch, okay? Don't take this as something else."

"Oh, of course not." He replied instantly. "Just a lunch. That's it."

"Yea." She whispered agreeing. He was agreeing to her but there was disappointment on her face, in her tone. She found it hard to digest that he considered it only a lunch. Nothing else. Why am I disappointed? I want it to be just lunch. He agrees then why? She sighed and picked up her fork again. She continued eating to stop her mind from going in circles.

***

Sharon yelled at Neha, "Neha! You come out of there right this moment."

Neha had been in the room for the past half hour. She was told to try on a dress that Sharon had bought for her. Vicky and Swayam set in the living room goofing around while the ladies continued with their yelling and pouting.

"But Neha no looking good." She punted back.

This annoyed Sharon to the end. "Oh please! I bought that dress Neha. I know it'll look blasting on you. Or else I wouldn't have bought it!!!"

"But'"

"No buts! Just open the damn door!"

She opened at last and stepped out nervously pulling at the end of the dress and also fixing it from the top. She looked up for an answer from Sharon but got only a stare from her. No words. Not a sound. Even the boys had stopped their noise and were looking at her.

She thought she looked like a ghost. She rambled, "See, I told you I look awful! Even Deewana doesn't like it. It looks like I'm a ghost you all saw'"

She was close to tears but Vicky said in a dreamy trance, "Deewani' you look fabulous."

She jerked her head up to him. "Really?" she asked with the glint back in her eyes.

"Really." He agreed back.

"You look fantastic." Sharon commented and further praised, "It's perfect for valentine's day!" Sharon exclaimed excitedly.

They all looked at each other and beamed. Valentine's Day wasn't far away and as far as they were concerned, it would the biggest and the happiest day they had seen in the last few years!

***

It was night time and Sonia asked, "What happened in here?" as she scrubbed the burnt pot.

"Oh! Kriya responded as she put the leftover dinner in the fridge. "Um, it burnt badly."

Sonia rolled her eyes. Like that wasn't obvious! With concern, she asked, "Then what did you have for lunch?"

Kriya stopped briefly. "I went out." She closed the fridge and added "With Rey." Almost a whisper.

But loud enough for Sonia to hear over the running tap water. She turned to look at her in shock. More of a surprise.

Kriya explained before she had the chance to ask, "It was nothing. We just had lunch and then we came back."

"Nothing? I don't believe that." Kriya gave a look of 'You can trust me' and she responded with, "Okay. If you say so. Just be careful."

Kriya went to her and hugged her from back. "Yea." She whispered in her ear and thanked God silently for giving her a wonderful friend who cares about her. She reminded Kriya of Sharon and Neha. Her two closest friends since college. Sharon was her sister but no less than a friend. They did become best friends first after all.

***

The week passed with everyone shopping for the trip back to India. Even though the things had to be bit limited, Sonia forced Kriya to buy things. She didn't say a word and let said nothing letting Sonia do what she wanted to.

Rose was acting the same. Just a tad bit more excited. She was going to India for the first time since birth. It wasn't that Kriya wasn't happy. She was. Really. But her feeling could be more explained as worried. She knew she'll have to meet Swayam. Sharon. And maybe even the rest of the group. What will she say to them? How will she explain her action to them? Will they understand? Such questions worried her. But she planted a smile on her face for Sonia's sake.

Still, the thoughts haunted her as she entered the airport with Ian and Rose after bidding bye to Karan, Sonia and Rahul. Karan had promised to come back to India. But only after days' time as he wasn't ready to leave Vancouver just yet.

***

Rey handed them their boarding passes once he got them all checked in. "Here you go. Just say in sight if you do decide to go somewhere. I'm going to get myself coffee. Anyone want any?"

"Me." Vaibhavi said courtly.

"Me too." Rose added.

Rey asked, "Ian?"

"No. I just had some." He replied nicely. Kriya was busy reading her novel. He looked at her and said, "Cool." He didn't have to ask her to know if she wanted any or not. He already knew the answer. Thus, he turned and left towards the mini caf in the airport.

***

The whole next part will be dedicated to the flight home ☺️

Have posted the whole chapter and will be sending pmz now. It's been a long time and I meant to complete typing almost 3 days ago but just couldn't get around it. Now it's updated and I might even start with the next chapter by end of this week. 😳 As said on Page 34 (Or 36.. Not sure) I won't stop any of my works on D3 because Shakti is leaving. It's sad but I will continue typing and keep them alive in my works.

Now, I want comments from everyone in the whole chapter. Will encourage me a lot and trust me, I need lots of it right now 🤗

-Khushi