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The lazy author of this story is ready to bear any sort of punishment from the panda gang for this much delayed update. Apologies dearies. Thanks a lot for showering all the love and being patient enough.Thankyou silent readers. Hope this update won't be disappointing.plz do ignore typos and errors. Lots of love...❤️
And yes...wishing a very happy wedding anniversary to Anu di...🤗
Chapter 8
Throughout her journey silent tears made their way.she couldn't figure out what made her cry. She failed to measure the depth of the relation they shared within the past 4-5 days.She slowly wipes her tears and gets down from the taxi with her luggage and heads towards SN.All the while she tried her best to brush aside her thoughts.Finally she reaches SN.All were elated to see her. She tried her best to give a wide smile never letting them to point out even a minute change or difference in her demeanour.All of them except KC approached her nd questions about her well being, journey, stay in the resort, reunion and what not. Mehak roamed her eye balls all confused whom to answer first.KC interrupted and asks all of them to spare Mehek nd let her take rest. She side hugs PD nd greets all the elders nd slowly ascends the stairs. Nehal, her cousin sister accompanies her with the luggage to her room.Mehek sits on her bed with a relaxing breath. While Nehal with atmost curiosity gets busy in unpacking the luggage. Mehek calms her down and passes a gift packet to her. Nehal gets elated to receive a trendy top as a gift nd thanks her sister."so di tell me..how was the trip nd all, you had fun right?..how was the resort ?."..asked Nehal excitedly."ya it was nice.."..replied Mehek with a sweet smile."But you missed something here too di..."..said Nehal. "What?"..Mehek questioned with her eyebrows."you missed the valentine's celebrations di...gawd...what an evening it was..love nd love only"...blabbered Nehal while blushing hard. The word valentine startled Mehek..many thoughts travelled in her mind.somehow her train of thoughts encircled him. She feared whether she'd utter his name unknowingly. She quickens her work nd sorts the gift bags without meeting Nehal's eyes. Nehal was quite irritated by her reaction. "Lo mein kis se valentine day ke baare mein baat kar rahi hoon..(oh god..to whom am I talking about Valentine stuff nd all) Uffo di.. you won't be even knowing how proposal happens".. said Nehal as she huffs. Well this agitates Mehek. "itna mat chidana mujhe(don't tease me to this extreme).. I know what is proposal and all"..she boasted in full confidence as she experienced the same for the very first time, few days back. "Is it so?..then explain it to me too di"..said Nehal in her sarcastic tone. Mehak closed her eyes nd sighs deeply as the whole proposal scene in a show reel via a voyage across the ocean of memories occupied her vision. Her juicy lips curved into a beautiful smile as she utters the three necessities required for a proposal out of random..gulab jamun, bracelet nd glue. Nehal popped her eyeballs nd burst into laughter. Mehak bit her tongue nd blinked her eyes out of fear. Nehal continued to laugh holding her belly leaving Mehak perplexed. "oh god ..di aapko yeh kis ne bataya"(who told you all this)...said Nehal suppressing her laughter. Mehek was in a tug of war with her disturbed mind to fetch her a reply to pacify her curious sister. "ladka gulab jamun khaake , ladki ko bracelet pehnake, uske moo pe kya glue lagake bhagega kya?(The guy would make the girl wear bracelet all the while munching the sweet nd he would run away gluing her lips)"...Nehal put forth her sarcastic explanation suppressing her laughter. For a moment Mehak got her breath back."Accha yeh batao kahin kisi pahadi ne aap pe line maari kya (Now tell me did any resident of Dehradun proposed you or not).".Nehal asked her with a naughty giggle nd wink. Mehak's eyes popped out hearing that. "woh..woh..mein" she stammered. "uffo di..I was just joking, you wont even look at someone's face then how someone will get a chance to see your face nd propose"..said Nehal nd burst into laughter hearing her own words. Mehak took a relaxing breath nd sighed. For the next few minutes Nehal continued her blabbering session which turned to deaf ears of Mehak..who was busy in her own cubby hole of thoughts.
Otherside,he was continuously caressing the jacket worn by her. He gently touches his shoulder where she rested her chin when they shared their precious hug before parting. Her smile, fragrance, innocence, beautiful features, sweet voice..everything about her was driving him crazy. He was getting impatient enough to meet her again. He was worried whether she would forget him. He was getting restless. She was undoubtedly a cynosure for his mind. He wondered how deftly she stole his heart.How she declaimed her right in every single breath of his. He reached KM.but was too lost in his own world ,literally in the dreamy world of his lady love that he forgets to step out of the car.His driver's condition was ironically pathetic, poor guy feared waking up his master from his dreamy sleep, as he always faced the extreme consequences of disturbing the angry bird. His mother karuna and Nanz were impatiently waiting near the entrance to welcome him. They were equally shocked and surprised to see a Shaurie who was smiling like a fool with his eyes shut. They could figure out easily that undoubtedly he was in a dreamland. For the first time they got a glimpse of 23 year old enthusiastic Shaurie, else he always carried a matured demeanour, the attitude of a young businessman. A wide smile spread on the lips of the two ladies, who kept on admiring the apple of their eyes.They cleared their throat, but Mr majnu never intended to come out of his dreamy land. Both of them were getting impatient nd called out his name in full volume. Shaurya was startled nd he woke up with fear as if someone wakes up after getting a nightmare. He somehow guessed from their expressions that he's been caught. The duo questioned him with their eyebrows. With a sheepish smile nd truck loads of embarassment he stepped out of the car. "pehle Jana nahi chahta tha, aur phir rotlu chehra banaakar 2 din keliye Gaya...wahan Jane ke baad 5 din bahut kam laga, 11ghante train Mein safar kar ke ghar lauta hai...abb gaadi Mein kaunsi magnet hai Shaurie"( first you were least interested to go, then with an unhappy face you left for two days..as nd when you reached there 5 days seemed to be a short duration for you..finally after almost 11hrs journey in train you're back home..still you don't want to get down..is there some sort of magnetism in the car)...asked karuna teasingly pulling his cheeks. He stood there with his naughty signature smile and greeted the lovely ladies with a cute bear hug. Without giving further chance to the lady duo to play quiz time..he stealthily excused them nd hurried to his room. The duo stood there puzzled sensing the complete reversal in his character. As he reaches his room..he jumps onto his bed with full force nd excitement and tightly hugs a pillow as he whispers her name with all love.
Seconds passed to minutes..nd minutes to hours. The sun sets below the horizon. Saturation of the reddish light embraces the sky. After enjoying tea-time with her family she slowly ascends the stairs and heads towards her room. Settles down on her bed. All the while peeping into her mobile screen. Since morning she didn't receive a call or message from anyone. Neither from Arjun nor from her dearest buddies Anki and Payal. Well to be honest she was waiting for somebody else's call..her new friend who is more than a friend to her."bada aaya...itne din lattu ke tarah mere peeche ghoomta rahta tha...abb dekho meri parwah hi nahi(all these days he used to follow me like a directionless spinning top..now he is not even bothered about me)"...she blabbers to herself being annoyed. "uffo Mehak..tum bhi na..tumhara number nahi hoga na uske paas(he won't be having my number)"..she said while hitting her head with her palm. "Ek minute..janab itna shaatir hai na...kahin se Mila hoga mera number..agar nahi Mili toh Arjun se le sakte the na...(one minute...the guy is so smart..he must have got from contact no:..if not he should have asked Arjun for the same)"..she said while folding her arms across her chest, pouting angrily and blabbering endlessly like an annoyed wife.Her angst rose like anything. She paced the floor nervously all the while keeping her ears wide open, continuously cracking her knuckles. And then her phone's ringtone freezes her for a moment. A million dollar smile crept on her lips. "It would be him...Shaurya"..her heart says. A priceless glint appears in her eyes with the mere mention of his name. She blinked her eyes nd cleared her throat before attending the call. "hello".. the other person voiced disappearing the smile on her lips.stricken with reality she checks the caller's name..to her bad luck It was Arjun. The disappointment factor curves her plump lips onto a cute sad pout while she answered his call. All the while Arjun inquired about her well being and return journey..to which she replied in a least interested lazy manner. She was eagerly waiting to hear about Shaurya..but again poor girl seemed to be unlucky when Arjun hung up the call wishing her a goodnight. She too wished him nd hung up the call out of no choice. She huffs nd places the phone back on the bed. She couldn't sit, stand or lay down at least for a second. Her restless mind was forcing her to pace across the room. Another hour just passed like that, much to her excitement her phone beeps notifying a message. "This time it should be him only"..her determined heart voiced out. She found to be the most unluckiest person in the world as the message was addressed to her by her crazy buddies Ankita and Payal. The text message emphasized an apology as they were busy and a promise to call her the next day. Poor Mehak got actually pissed off then. The one whose messages and calls she anticipated never turned up. On the top of that her best buddies didn't spare a minute to talk with her. She tossed the phone on the bed angrily and walks to the balcony continuing her jabbers.For a moment she thought of getting his contact number from Arjun..still she was hesitant and never intended to get embarrassed again. Her itinerant mind followed her like an annoying ghost. Her endless worries, concern and annoyance never intended to culminate. It was irrefutable for her that though she returned to her own world,everything just revolved around a single person. Her mind resembled a maze created by his presence and turning complex due to his absence. She leans on the balcony wall and settles down there pulling her knees closer to her chest. Her dreamy eyes glittered watching the dark sky..where the stars flickered endlessly. Peace filled her heart as for few minutes she was lost in that visual where her disturbing thoughts were hesitant to make an entry. She smiled and took a deep breath sensing that her life is back to normal. The very next moment she's startled as someone pats her shoulder. Her beautiful eyes pops out nd she lets out a gasp and turns as she hears a familiar voice. "uffo dara Di tune mujhe (you scared me girl)"..mehak complains to her very own neighbour and best friend since childhood Sonal, who's winking at her flashing her lovely smile. "Oh madam kiske sapnon Mein khoyi hui thi?.(About whom you were dreaming about)..asked Sonal teasingly earning a pout from her bestie. " Hmmm..I smell something fishy here"...said Sonal as she closely examined her buddy's face." Wh..wh..what?"...stammered Mehak. "Earlier you used to be angry and now you replied with a pout..kahin tumhare dil ke garden Mein pyar Ke gulaab toh nahi uge hai (did the roses of love bloomed in the garden of your heart)...said Sonal teasingly as a naughty glint played on her eyes. " There is nothing like that... you always misjudge me right?"...said Mehak while getting up and walks off to her room in her angry mode."No baba..it's not like that"...said Sonal in her pleading tone following her buddy. Mehak neared her study nd pretends to read a book faking her anger. Sonal is all behind in a mission to pacify her.
As the time passes the two buddies get engrossed in their funny chats. Sonal was her true bestie in all means. They had no secrets in between them. But for the first time ever in her life Mehak hid something from her bestie. She talked bit about the reunion and the stay thereafter. But tried her best not to mention anything related to him. Sonal kept on asking her about her stay in Dehradun. Mehek struggled to fetch her a reply as most of the time she was with Shaurya. She would have shared everything word by word to her bestie.Sonal would have been the first person to know about their friendship, bike ride and even the train journey if things were different.Apart from friendly talks and hangouts something else also happened between them. Something which cajoled a bundle of once in a lifetime intense eye locks that cocooned into a cup of memories .But he was different, the way she felt being with him was different...moreover he was the very first man in her life to propose nd confess his love for her. She was absolutely clueless about her feelings. She never wished to be embarrassed again in front of her bestie. To her surprise he was the only one to understand her state of mind way better than others. As she was engrossed in her deep thoughts Sonal snapped her fingers breaking her(Mehak's) trance.Both of them continued their talks while enjoying the reunion pics in Mehak's phone. While snapping the images Sonal shouted.." God..who's this handsome?"...pointing at Shaurya's face. For a moment Mehak felt extremely nervous. She cleared her throat nd took his name in the best way to appear normal. Sonal was busy admiring and appreciating his physique as well as features. Mehak was quite irked hearing his praise as he never bothered to contact her since their parting." Bahut ho Gaya uska puraan" (enough of his chants)..she huffs nd snatches the phone from Sonal. Sonal gives her a questionable look. Mehak tries to fill up adding that she's sleepy nd wants to take rest. Sonal nods her head as she couldn't digest her buddy's demeanour. Meanwhile Sonal receives a call, a smile crept on her lips seeing the caller id and immediately she rejects the call. The same procedure continues 4 to 5 times.while Mehak gives her a confusing look and asks what's the matter. With a sheepish smile Sonal replies that it's her boyfriend's call. " Toh phir uthaaya kyun nahi?( then why you didn't bother to answer him)...asked Mehak innocently. "How will I explain this to you Mehek...girlfriend boyfriend life and all?"..said Sonal with a sarcastic yet worried expression. " I know, Nehal often gives her lectures on this "...replied Mehek. " oh baby...very sorry to say...but don't follow your sissy's lectures..uske itne kapde nahi hote jitne uske boyfriends hai (she may be having less clothes compared to the number of boyfriends).. said Sonal and both of them burst into laughter. "I can give a nice piece of advice on this topic as I have only one boyfriend"..boasted Sonal. Mehak made a face expressing complete disapproval to hear the same. " see baby..if not today..tomorrow you may need these tips"..said Sonal. Mehak's brows twisted in fear. " I mean.. in future girl".. assured Sonal studying the fear on her buddy's face. Sonal starts her lecture session while Mehak listens to her keenly. Sonal recited her love story, how the guy proposed her, how they meet often, how the guy used to follow her like a puppy before proposal, in general how guys flirt and all. Though Mehak was not much interested in her talks, one thing caught her attention that Shaurya was entirely different from the so called lovers, he was unique. This made her even more sceptical about his behaviour.She thought whether he's different or he is pretending to be one. He was such a perfect gentleman, he thought of giving her ample space nd time without forcing his decision onto her. He carries all the traits of a perfect charming prince as portrayed in fairy tales. She sat there deeply immersed in his thoughts without even blinking her eyes. Sonal waved at her umpteen times it was all in vain. Finally she shook her(Mehak's) shoulders breaking her trance. " kis khayaal Mein doobi ho?( In what thoughts you are dwelled into).. asked Sonal teasingly. Mehak just blinked her eyes in reflex as she was not able to utter anything. The wall clock strikes 10 alarming both of them. Sonal gets up and intends to leave. " ok Baby...will meet after your exams, your Kanta chachi won't permit me even near a short radii of yours"..says Sonal and nears the door.Mehak followed her a like a lost soul adding more to her (Sonal) suspicion. "Mehek are you sure you have nothing else to share with me"...Sonal asked in her concerned tone. "woh..mein.."Mehek stammers with the same deadpan face unable to meet Sonal's eyes. " Accha.. don't take much stress and prepare well for your exams"..replied Sonal. Though Sonal sensed something, she wished not to bother her(Mehak) anymore.
After bidding bye to Sonal she dawdles near the bed. Immediately picked up her phone nd checks the notifications. Again gets disappointment as there was no name or sign of him. He might have decamped."bada aaya videshi"(may be he has left for london)she blabbers in her mind."panch din keliye dosti manake..chala Gaya Bandar kahinka (just celebrated friendship for five days nd he eloped like a monkey). Ya I can understand am not his friend..am his ..voh whatever. But he is my friend na. And I haven't deplored his Gulab jamun wala antic. I said am confused. Now there is nothing wrong with that"...she continues her jabbers debonairly. She was turning into a curmudgeon soon. "Bhaad Mein jaye(to hell with) Shaurya Khanna"..angrily shouts the last words and lands on the bed as she is completely worn out coz of her endless blabbers. A drop of tear travels all the way from her doe shaped eyes to the pillow. She wished to whoop as things were going out of control. Her eyes turned heavy nd she slowly stepped into a deep slumber.
The warm morning rays of sun lit her room. She gently opens her eyes as a ray of light peeps in through the window curtains. She lazily gets up spreading her arms, and yawns while scrunching her nose. Hesitantly picks up her phone nd smirks annoyingly seeing zero notifications. For a second she tightly shuts her eyes , brushes aside her thoughts nd sighs leaving a deep relaxing breath. She gets ready for the day. Starting with the healthy preparations for her final exams. Day nd night she distanced herself from all distractions. She completely tried to ignore the entry of thoughts encircling him. Still she was waiting impatiently to have a word with him or meet him. She'd calm her irresistible mindset by caressing her bracelet and cherishing their memories. The sound of a speeding bullet bike, the commotion in the street, the tiny droplets of rain during midnight hours, the song sung by him..or even the juicy Gulab jamun. Everything signified his presence everywhere around her. Since his confession she never ate Gulab jamuns till date,unbeknown of the reason. Finally the day of commencement of exams arrived. She had a bit belief that he'd try to meet her by paying a visit to her college at least. All these years it was customary for Nehal to stand in front of the mirror for hours before leaving for college. But today to her(Nehal's) surprise Mehak stood before the mirror checking out her attire and hairdo umpteen times. She closely admires herself reminiscing his compliments on her beauty. The feeling was heavenly as for the very first time she admired herself as someone described her features and curvaceous figure poetically." Oh common di...what's so special about today...it's your exams right...plz be fast"... shouted Nehal all confused seeing her sissy spending hours in front of the mirror. Mehak immediately grabs her belongings nd prepares to leave. Before leaving she runs back to the mirror to confirm whether she's looking perfect or not. After seeking blessings from elders she drove away to her college with Nehal. As she drives she kept on searching for someone ( undoubtedly him) in the busy roads and heavy traffic. The searching mission was called off as Nehal alarmed her about the time. By God's grace she reached the exam hall just before it's commencement . The exam pressure took over her mind and nothing distracted her. After 3 hours, at the stroke of the final bell,..with a satisfactory smile she handovers her answer sheets. While preparing to leave collecting her writing materials she senses the pressence of someone near the door. Her face lit up as she saw him standing near the door with his signature smile."Shaurya"..she whispers his name with a sweet smile. "How was the exam Mehak"..asks one of her classmates patting her shoulder. Awakening her from her day dream. Her pink lips curves into a sad pout as soon as she realised she was dreaming about him. Neither he came to meet her , nor he welcomed her with his heart-warming smile. Without replying to her friend she leaves the exam hall. "pakka bhool Gaya hoga mujhe" (definitely he might have forgotten me)..she blabbers like an innocent child. She wished to whoop, but still controlled herself as silent tears made their way. "dosti Ki hai toh nibhani bhi padegi"( the friendship bond need to be kept intact)..she says while scrunching her reddened nose. She felt defeated for a moment as she lost his friendship. She couldn't easily forget him as they made few memories together to be cherished throughout their life. Wiping her tears she headed towards her scooty nd drove back to SN. Greeting everyone formally she heads to her room closing the door behind her. She crawled onto the floor mat. For next few hours she sat on her knees feeling depressed. Later on,gradually she found some way or the other to get out of this. Listening to her favourite music, reading her favourite novels, playing some crazy video games, enjoying nd chit chatting with family members nd all.
Two weeks passed just like that. Though his thoughts followed her, still she was quick enough to brush them aside. A night before her final exams she was busy pacing her room with the study materials. Scratching her head in-between while iteratively reciting the complicated definitions. Meanwhile KC enters her room holding a glass of health drink. Mehek makes faces, but KC insists her to empty the contents of the glass. She warns her(Mehak) about the alarming flu in Delhi. As KC leaves Mehak keeps on pondering. " what if he is ill?"...she exclaims bit worried. " what if he's been caught up with flu..and may be coz of that he didn't pay a visit to me..and that's why no messages and phone calls..ya it could be...god I misunderstood him"...she said to herself completely guilt ridden. She decides to pay a visit to him the next day. To her favour Nehal was having a holiday.Bidding bye to her family she left SN quite early. Taking a long diversion she drove to south Delhi , to vasantkunj. With some intuition and the details served by him she reaches KM. She was in awe as she saw his huge mansion. She tried to get a glimpse of him trying to not step out of the scooty. For almost 15 minutes she stood there like that. The security guard was monitoring her through the window in guard's room. She quickly notices it and droves away from the spot immediately. Throughout her drive she cursed herself for being unlucky and stupid. After finishing the final exams she was busy chit chatting with her buddies in their classroom. Meanwhile a familiar figure appears near the door. She sensed that it must be him nd turns up to confirm the same. Yes he was standing there in a striped T-shirt and slim fit jeans. Looking handsome as ever with his heart winning smile. She never bothered about it as it was her usual business to dream about meeting him. The endless chattering of her fellow mates startled her. They were all busy drooling at him and sharing their sweet views upon seeing him. "was he for real"..Mehak said while pinching her arm. " ouch"..she winces nd gulps saliva stricken with reality. He waves at her. She flashes her tooth set unable to hide her happiness and waves back at him
.
The whole classroom is dumbfounded as she gets up and approaches him.He stood there like an ardent admirer. She nears the door and there eyes meet. She could very well hear the gossiping session of her classmates. Blocking all the means to get embarrassed she pulls his hand and nears a corner. It was all smiles between them for few seconds. Her happiness radiated in her doe shaped eyes and priceless smile. The typical girlish thing in Mehak sidelines her happiness. She huffs folding her arms across her chest faking the typical wife's anger. He was about to start the conversation while she cuts off him." Kyun...kis se Milne aaye ho?..ab yaad aa gayi Mehak.. Dehradun Mein toh saaye Ki tarah mera peecha Karta tha...delhi aate hi amnesia ho gaya kya?(you came to meet whom?...now only you remembered me?..you used follow me like a shadow everywhere in Dehradun..as nd when you reached Delhi you got amnesia right?)"..she complains pouting angrily earning a shocked expression from him. "Am sorry Mehak, Actually I thought of not disturbing you since you were having exams"...came his innocent yet sincere reply. For a moment she was in awe with his innocence.How selfless he was. How he cared for her. Such a noble reason behind his disappearance. She couldn't believe, she was doubtful whether he was real or not. His pupils never dilated all the while watching and admiring her.she felt she would get immersed deeply in the ocean of glint in his expressive eyes. Again the thought of his disappearance churned out her inner feelings. " Accha toh tumhe kya laga... Mein itne din padhayi Mein madhosh thi... Baar baar bhoot Ki Tarah tum mere khayalon Mein aate rehte the...(what you thought that I'll be engrossed in studies... how could I...you're thoughts followed me like a ghost all these days).. jahan dekho tum hi tum, ek Gulab jamun tak nahi khayi meine (everywhere I felt your presence... even I couldn't enjoy Gulab jamuns)"...Mehak blurted out everything. His face lit up like anything as she spoke like an annoyed wife all the while worried about her hubby. She bit her tongue reminiscing her words and lowered her face out of embarrassment. "oh I see ..so Miss Mehek Sharma missed me like hell"..he said as he winked naughtily. She looks here and there unable to meet his eyes, while he chuckled seeing her. Meanwhile her classmates passes by them all the while gawking at them. A pissed off mehak asks him.."aaj hi kyun aaye ho?..aur college mein kyun aaye ho?"(why you came to meet me today that too in college?). "I somehow had idea that your exams would finish today..and...the moment I saw you today outside my house, I couldn't resist myself anymore.."he replies with atmost sincerity. While she bites her nails unable to hide her embarassment of being caught by him for her secret visit to his mansion. "I followed you till the college and waited here since then to meet you".. he continued with his heart winning smile.While her lips curved into an O hearing him. "Am so happy today...don't know how I lived all these days without talking to you or meeting you..I guess I've died million times admiring your pics...am on cloud nine today now I can meet you everytime, everyday"...he shouted like an excited child ."tum na poore pagal ho"( you are totally crazy)..she says while hitting his shoulder.to put an end to the further conversation she tries to move. He cages her without letting her move. As she tries to push him aside her pendant gets entangled on his Tee button. A naughty glint appears in his eyes as she tries to detangle. " Easy easy Mehak..what's the hurry?"...he says while catching her palms. His intense gaze studied her face. "Itne dinon baad mile hai...mujhe acche se dekhne toh do( we met after so long...give me a chance to get a proper look)"..he voiced in his magnanimous sensuous tone. Her words died in her mouth hearing him. They shared a deep eye lock resembling a cumulus of sparkling intensity. His breaths falling on her upper lips showcased his craziness for her. Her heart beats rose as his dark orbs sparkled like a goblet intending to swallow her. She gulped saliva as he started detangling the chain without losing the eye contact. "kuch kuch ho raha hai( you feel something )"..his sensuous voice nd breath hits her lips before reaching her ears. She gasps nd nods her head in a no. " matlab bahut kuch ho raha hai(means you are feeling many things)"..he voices with an intense smirk. She again nods her head in a no and whispers his name, pleading him to spare her as his proximity had frozen all her sensory movements. Their noses brushed as he detangled the chain. She let out a gasp feeling relieved. She turns to leave as he softly mutters the three magical words in her ears. Her cheeks blushed deep red. She runs from there out of embarrassment. And halts after covering a few distance. "Don't worry I have your phone number"..came his voice startling her. She wondered whether he had sixth sense or something to read her mind. She slowly turns back only to find him smiling sheepishly enjoying her embarassment. Out of no choice she waves at him and slowly disappears from his sight.
To be continued...
And yes...wishing a very happy wedding anniversary to Anu di...🤗
Chapter 8
Throughout her journey silent tears made their way.she couldn't figure out what made her cry. She failed to measure the depth of the relation they shared within the past 4-5 days.She slowly wipes her tears and gets down from the taxi with her luggage and heads towards SN.All the while she tried her best to brush aside her thoughts.Finally she reaches SN.All were elated to see her. She tried her best to give a wide smile never letting them to point out even a minute change or difference in her demeanour.All of them except KC approached her nd questions about her well being, journey, stay in the resort, reunion and what not. Mehak roamed her eye balls all confused whom to answer first.KC interrupted and asks all of them to spare Mehek nd let her take rest. She side hugs PD nd greets all the elders nd slowly ascends the stairs. Nehal, her cousin sister accompanies her with the luggage to her room.Mehek sits on her bed with a relaxing breath. While Nehal with atmost curiosity gets busy in unpacking the luggage. Mehek calms her down and passes a gift packet to her. Nehal gets elated to receive a trendy top as a gift nd thanks her sister."so di tell me..how was the trip nd all, you had fun right?..how was the resort ?."..asked Nehal excitedly."ya it was nice.."..replied Mehek with a sweet smile."But you missed something here too di..."..said Nehal. "What?"..Mehek questioned with her eyebrows."you missed the valentine's celebrations di...gawd...what an evening it was..love nd love only"...blabbered Nehal while blushing hard. The word valentine startled Mehek..many thoughts travelled in her mind.somehow her train of thoughts encircled him. She feared whether she'd utter his name unknowingly. She quickens her work nd sorts the gift bags without meeting Nehal's eyes. Nehal was quite irritated by her reaction. "Lo mein kis se valentine day ke baare mein baat kar rahi hoon..(oh god..to whom am I talking about Valentine stuff nd all) Uffo di.. you won't be even knowing how proposal happens".. said Nehal as she huffs. Well this agitates Mehek. "itna mat chidana mujhe(don't tease me to this extreme).. I know what is proposal and all"..she boasted in full confidence as she experienced the same for the very first time, few days back. "Is it so?..then explain it to me too di"..said Nehal in her sarcastic tone. Mehak closed her eyes nd sighs deeply as the whole proposal scene in a show reel via a voyage across the ocean of memories occupied her vision. Her juicy lips curved into a beautiful smile as she utters the three necessities required for a proposal out of random..gulab jamun, bracelet nd glue. Nehal popped her eyeballs nd burst into laughter. Mehak bit her tongue nd blinked her eyes out of fear. Nehal continued to laugh holding her belly leaving Mehak perplexed. "oh god ..di aapko yeh kis ne bataya"(who told you all this)...said Nehal suppressing her laughter. Mehek was in a tug of war with her disturbed mind to fetch her a reply to pacify her curious sister. "ladka gulab jamun khaake , ladki ko bracelet pehnake, uske moo pe kya glue lagake bhagega kya?(The guy would make the girl wear bracelet all the while munching the sweet nd he would run away gluing her lips)"...Nehal put forth her sarcastic explanation suppressing her laughter. For a moment Mehak got her breath back."Accha yeh batao kahin kisi pahadi ne aap pe line maari kya (Now tell me did any resident of Dehradun proposed you or not).".Nehal asked her with a naughty giggle nd wink. Mehak's eyes popped out hearing that. "woh..woh..mein" she stammered. "uffo di..I was just joking, you wont even look at someone's face then how someone will get a chance to see your face nd propose"..said Nehal nd burst into laughter hearing her own words. Mehak took a relaxing breath nd sighed. For the next few minutes Nehal continued her blabbering session which turned to deaf ears of Mehak..who was busy in her own cubby hole of thoughts.
Otherside,he was continuously caressing the jacket worn by her. He gently touches his shoulder where she rested her chin when they shared their precious hug before parting. Her smile, fragrance, innocence, beautiful features, sweet voice..everything about her was driving him crazy. He was getting impatient enough to meet her again. He was worried whether she would forget him. He was getting restless. She was undoubtedly a cynosure for his mind. He wondered how deftly she stole his heart.How she declaimed her right in every single breath of his. He reached KM.but was too lost in his own world ,literally in the dreamy world of his lady love that he forgets to step out of the car.His driver's condition was ironically pathetic, poor guy feared waking up his master from his dreamy sleep, as he always faced the extreme consequences of disturbing the angry bird. His mother karuna and Nanz were impatiently waiting near the entrance to welcome him. They were equally shocked and surprised to see a Shaurie who was smiling like a fool with his eyes shut. They could figure out easily that undoubtedly he was in a dreamland. For the first time they got a glimpse of 23 year old enthusiastic Shaurie, else he always carried a matured demeanour, the attitude of a young businessman. A wide smile spread on the lips of the two ladies, who kept on admiring the apple of their eyes.They cleared their throat, but Mr majnu never intended to come out of his dreamy land. Both of them were getting impatient nd called out his name in full volume. Shaurya was startled nd he woke up with fear as if someone wakes up after getting a nightmare. He somehow guessed from their expressions that he's been caught. The duo questioned him with their eyebrows. With a sheepish smile nd truck loads of embarassment he stepped out of the car. "pehle Jana nahi chahta tha, aur phir rotlu chehra banaakar 2 din keliye Gaya...wahan Jane ke baad 5 din bahut kam laga, 11ghante train Mein safar kar ke ghar lauta hai...abb gaadi Mein kaunsi magnet hai Shaurie"( first you were least interested to go, then with an unhappy face you left for two days..as nd when you reached there 5 days seemed to be a short duration for you..finally after almost 11hrs journey in train you're back home..still you don't want to get down..is there some sort of magnetism in the car)...asked karuna teasingly pulling his cheeks. He stood there with his naughty signature smile and greeted the lovely ladies with a cute bear hug. Without giving further chance to the lady duo to play quiz time..he stealthily excused them nd hurried to his room. The duo stood there puzzled sensing the complete reversal in his character. As he reaches his room..he jumps onto his bed with full force nd excitement and tightly hugs a pillow as he whispers her name with all love.
Seconds passed to minutes..nd minutes to hours. The sun sets below the horizon. Saturation of the reddish light embraces the sky. After enjoying tea-time with her family she slowly ascends the stairs and heads towards her room. Settles down on her bed. All the while peeping into her mobile screen. Since morning she didn't receive a call or message from anyone. Neither from Arjun nor from her dearest buddies Anki and Payal. Well to be honest she was waiting for somebody else's call..her new friend who is more than a friend to her."bada aaya...itne din lattu ke tarah mere peeche ghoomta rahta tha...abb dekho meri parwah hi nahi(all these days he used to follow me like a directionless spinning top..now he is not even bothered about me)"...she blabbers to herself being annoyed. "uffo Mehak..tum bhi na..tumhara number nahi hoga na uske paas(he won't be having my number)"..she said while hitting her head with her palm. "Ek minute..janab itna shaatir hai na...kahin se Mila hoga mera number..agar nahi Mili toh Arjun se le sakte the na...(one minute...the guy is so smart..he must have got from contact no:..if not he should have asked Arjun for the same)"..she said while folding her arms across her chest, pouting angrily and blabbering endlessly like an annoyed wife.Her angst rose like anything. She paced the floor nervously all the while keeping her ears wide open, continuously cracking her knuckles. And then her phone's ringtone freezes her for a moment. A million dollar smile crept on her lips. "It would be him...Shaurya"..her heart says. A priceless glint appears in her eyes with the mere mention of his name. She blinked her eyes nd cleared her throat before attending the call. "hello".. the other person voiced disappearing the smile on her lips.stricken with reality she checks the caller's name..to her bad luck It was Arjun. The disappointment factor curves her plump lips onto a cute sad pout while she answered his call. All the while Arjun inquired about her well being and return journey..to which she replied in a least interested lazy manner. She was eagerly waiting to hear about Shaurya..but again poor girl seemed to be unlucky when Arjun hung up the call wishing her a goodnight. She too wished him nd hung up the call out of no choice. She huffs nd places the phone back on the bed. She couldn't sit, stand or lay down at least for a second. Her restless mind was forcing her to pace across the room. Another hour just passed like that, much to her excitement her phone beeps notifying a message. "This time it should be him only"..her determined heart voiced out. She found to be the most unluckiest person in the world as the message was addressed to her by her crazy buddies Ankita and Payal. The text message emphasized an apology as they were busy and a promise to call her the next day. Poor Mehak got actually pissed off then. The one whose messages and calls she anticipated never turned up. On the top of that her best buddies didn't spare a minute to talk with her. She tossed the phone on the bed angrily and walks to the balcony continuing her jabbers.For a moment she thought of getting his contact number from Arjun..still she was hesitant and never intended to get embarrassed again. Her itinerant mind followed her like an annoying ghost. Her endless worries, concern and annoyance never intended to culminate. It was irrefutable for her that though she returned to her own world,everything just revolved around a single person. Her mind resembled a maze created by his presence and turning complex due to his absence. She leans on the balcony wall and settles down there pulling her knees closer to her chest. Her dreamy eyes glittered watching the dark sky..where the stars flickered endlessly. Peace filled her heart as for few minutes she was lost in that visual where her disturbing thoughts were hesitant to make an entry. She smiled and took a deep breath sensing that her life is back to normal. The very next moment she's startled as someone pats her shoulder. Her beautiful eyes pops out nd she lets out a gasp and turns as she hears a familiar voice. "uffo dara Di tune mujhe (you scared me girl)"..mehak complains to her very own neighbour and best friend since childhood Sonal, who's winking at her flashing her lovely smile. "Oh madam kiske sapnon Mein khoyi hui thi?.(About whom you were dreaming about)..asked Sonal teasingly earning a pout from her bestie. " Hmmm..I smell something fishy here"...said Sonal as she closely examined her buddy's face." Wh..wh..what?"...stammered Mehak. "Earlier you used to be angry and now you replied with a pout..kahin tumhare dil ke garden Mein pyar Ke gulaab toh nahi uge hai (did the roses of love bloomed in the garden of your heart)...said Sonal teasingly as a naughty glint played on her eyes. " There is nothing like that... you always misjudge me right?"...said Mehak while getting up and walks off to her room in her angry mode."No baba..it's not like that"...said Sonal in her pleading tone following her buddy. Mehak neared her study nd pretends to read a book faking her anger. Sonal is all behind in a mission to pacify her.
As the time passes the two buddies get engrossed in their funny chats. Sonal was her true bestie in all means. They had no secrets in between them. But for the first time ever in her life Mehak hid something from her bestie. She talked bit about the reunion and the stay thereafter. But tried her best not to mention anything related to him. Sonal kept on asking her about her stay in Dehradun. Mehek struggled to fetch her a reply as most of the time she was with Shaurya. She would have shared everything word by word to her bestie.Sonal would have been the first person to know about their friendship, bike ride and even the train journey if things were different.Apart from friendly talks and hangouts something else also happened between them. Something which cajoled a bundle of once in a lifetime intense eye locks that cocooned into a cup of memories .But he was different, the way she felt being with him was different...moreover he was the very first man in her life to propose nd confess his love for her. She was absolutely clueless about her feelings. She never wished to be embarrassed again in front of her bestie. To her surprise he was the only one to understand her state of mind way better than others. As she was engrossed in her deep thoughts Sonal snapped her fingers breaking her(Mehak's) trance.Both of them continued their talks while enjoying the reunion pics in Mehak's phone. While snapping the images Sonal shouted.." God..who's this handsome?"...pointing at Shaurya's face. For a moment Mehak felt extremely nervous. She cleared her throat nd took his name in the best way to appear normal. Sonal was busy admiring and appreciating his physique as well as features. Mehak was quite irked hearing his praise as he never bothered to contact her since their parting." Bahut ho Gaya uska puraan" (enough of his chants)..she huffs nd snatches the phone from Sonal. Sonal gives her a questionable look. Mehak tries to fill up adding that she's sleepy nd wants to take rest. Sonal nods her head as she couldn't digest her buddy's demeanour. Meanwhile Sonal receives a call, a smile crept on her lips seeing the caller id and immediately she rejects the call. The same procedure continues 4 to 5 times.while Mehak gives her a confusing look and asks what's the matter. With a sheepish smile Sonal replies that it's her boyfriend's call. " Toh phir uthaaya kyun nahi?( then why you didn't bother to answer him)...asked Mehak innocently. "How will I explain this to you Mehek...girlfriend boyfriend life and all?"..said Sonal with a sarcastic yet worried expression. " I know, Nehal often gives her lectures on this "...replied Mehek. " oh baby...very sorry to say...but don't follow your sissy's lectures..uske itne kapde nahi hote jitne uske boyfriends hai (she may be having less clothes compared to the number of boyfriends).. said Sonal and both of them burst into laughter. "I can give a nice piece of advice on this topic as I have only one boyfriend"..boasted Sonal. Mehak made a face expressing complete disapproval to hear the same. " see baby..if not today..tomorrow you may need these tips"..said Sonal. Mehak's brows twisted in fear. " I mean.. in future girl".. assured Sonal studying the fear on her buddy's face. Sonal starts her lecture session while Mehak listens to her keenly. Sonal recited her love story, how the guy proposed her, how they meet often, how the guy used to follow her like a puppy before proposal, in general how guys flirt and all. Though Mehak was not much interested in her talks, one thing caught her attention that Shaurya was entirely different from the so called lovers, he was unique. This made her even more sceptical about his behaviour.She thought whether he's different or he is pretending to be one. He was such a perfect gentleman, he thought of giving her ample space nd time without forcing his decision onto her. He carries all the traits of a perfect charming prince as portrayed in fairy tales. She sat there deeply immersed in his thoughts without even blinking her eyes. Sonal waved at her umpteen times it was all in vain. Finally she shook her(Mehak's) shoulders breaking her trance. " kis khayaal Mein doobi ho?( In what thoughts you are dwelled into).. asked Sonal teasingly. Mehak just blinked her eyes in reflex as she was not able to utter anything. The wall clock strikes 10 alarming both of them. Sonal gets up and intends to leave. " ok Baby...will meet after your exams, your Kanta chachi won't permit me even near a short radii of yours"..says Sonal and nears the door.Mehak followed her a like a lost soul adding more to her (Sonal) suspicion. "Mehek are you sure you have nothing else to share with me"...Sonal asked in her concerned tone. "woh..mein.."Mehek stammers with the same deadpan face unable to meet Sonal's eyes. " Accha.. don't take much stress and prepare well for your exams"..replied Sonal. Though Sonal sensed something, she wished not to bother her(Mehak) anymore.
After bidding bye to Sonal she dawdles near the bed. Immediately picked up her phone nd checks the notifications. Again gets disappointment as there was no name or sign of him. He might have decamped."bada aaya videshi"(may be he has left for london)she blabbers in her mind."panch din keliye dosti manake..chala Gaya Bandar kahinka (just celebrated friendship for five days nd he eloped like a monkey). Ya I can understand am not his friend..am his ..voh whatever. But he is my friend na. And I haven't deplored his Gulab jamun wala antic. I said am confused. Now there is nothing wrong with that"...she continues her jabbers debonairly. She was turning into a curmudgeon soon. "Bhaad Mein jaye(to hell with) Shaurya Khanna"..angrily shouts the last words and lands on the bed as she is completely worn out coz of her endless blabbers. A drop of tear travels all the way from her doe shaped eyes to the pillow. She wished to whoop as things were going out of control. Her eyes turned heavy nd she slowly stepped into a deep slumber.
The warm morning rays of sun lit her room. She gently opens her eyes as a ray of light peeps in through the window curtains. She lazily gets up spreading her arms, and yawns while scrunching her nose. Hesitantly picks up her phone nd smirks annoyingly seeing zero notifications. For a second she tightly shuts her eyes , brushes aside her thoughts nd sighs leaving a deep relaxing breath. She gets ready for the day. Starting with the healthy preparations for her final exams. Day nd night she distanced herself from all distractions. She completely tried to ignore the entry of thoughts encircling him. Still she was waiting impatiently to have a word with him or meet him. She'd calm her irresistible mindset by caressing her bracelet and cherishing their memories. The sound of a speeding bullet bike, the commotion in the street, the tiny droplets of rain during midnight hours, the song sung by him..or even the juicy Gulab jamun. Everything signified his presence everywhere around her. Since his confession she never ate Gulab jamuns till date,unbeknown of the reason. Finally the day of commencement of exams arrived. She had a bit belief that he'd try to meet her by paying a visit to her college at least. All these years it was customary for Nehal to stand in front of the mirror for hours before leaving for college. But today to her(Nehal's) surprise Mehak stood before the mirror checking out her attire and hairdo umpteen times. She closely admires herself reminiscing his compliments on her beauty. The feeling was heavenly as for the very first time she admired herself as someone described her features and curvaceous figure poetically." Oh common di...what's so special about today...it's your exams right...plz be fast"... shouted Nehal all confused seeing her sissy spending hours in front of the mirror. Mehak immediately grabs her belongings nd prepares to leave. Before leaving she runs back to the mirror to confirm whether she's looking perfect or not. After seeking blessings from elders she drove away to her college with Nehal. As she drives she kept on searching for someone ( undoubtedly him) in the busy roads and heavy traffic. The searching mission was called off as Nehal alarmed her about the time. By God's grace she reached the exam hall just before it's commencement . The exam pressure took over her mind and nothing distracted her. After 3 hours, at the stroke of the final bell,..with a satisfactory smile she handovers her answer sheets. While preparing to leave collecting her writing materials she senses the pressence of someone near the door. Her face lit up as she saw him standing near the door with his signature smile."Shaurya"..she whispers his name with a sweet smile. "How was the exam Mehak"..asks one of her classmates patting her shoulder. Awakening her from her day dream. Her pink lips curves into a sad pout as soon as she realised she was dreaming about him. Neither he came to meet her , nor he welcomed her with his heart-warming smile. Without replying to her friend she leaves the exam hall. "pakka bhool Gaya hoga mujhe" (definitely he might have forgotten me)..she blabbers like an innocent child. She wished to whoop, but still controlled herself as silent tears made their way. "dosti Ki hai toh nibhani bhi padegi"( the friendship bond need to be kept intact)..she says while scrunching her reddened nose. She felt defeated for a moment as she lost his friendship. She couldn't easily forget him as they made few memories together to be cherished throughout their life. Wiping her tears she headed towards her scooty nd drove back to SN. Greeting everyone formally she heads to her room closing the door behind her. She crawled onto the floor mat. For next few hours she sat on her knees feeling depressed. Later on,gradually she found some way or the other to get out of this. Listening to her favourite music, reading her favourite novels, playing some crazy video games, enjoying nd chit chatting with family members nd all.
Two weeks passed just like that. Though his thoughts followed her, still she was quick enough to brush them aside. A night before her final exams she was busy pacing her room with the study materials. Scratching her head in-between while iteratively reciting the complicated definitions. Meanwhile KC enters her room holding a glass of health drink. Mehek makes faces, but KC insists her to empty the contents of the glass. She warns her(Mehak) about the alarming flu in Delhi. As KC leaves Mehak keeps on pondering. " what if he is ill?"...she exclaims bit worried. " what if he's been caught up with flu..and may be coz of that he didn't pay a visit to me..and that's why no messages and phone calls..ya it could be...god I misunderstood him"...she said to herself completely guilt ridden. She decides to pay a visit to him the next day. To her favour Nehal was having a holiday.Bidding bye to her family she left SN quite early. Taking a long diversion she drove to south Delhi , to vasantkunj. With some intuition and the details served by him she reaches KM. She was in awe as she saw his huge mansion. She tried to get a glimpse of him trying to not step out of the scooty. For almost 15 minutes she stood there like that. The security guard was monitoring her through the window in guard's room. She quickly notices it and droves away from the spot immediately. Throughout her drive she cursed herself for being unlucky and stupid. After finishing the final exams she was busy chit chatting with her buddies in their classroom. Meanwhile a familiar figure appears near the door. She sensed that it must be him nd turns up to confirm the same. Yes he was standing there in a striped T-shirt and slim fit jeans. Looking handsome as ever with his heart winning smile. She never bothered about it as it was her usual business to dream about meeting him. The endless chattering of her fellow mates startled her. They were all busy drooling at him and sharing their sweet views upon seeing him. "was he for real"..Mehak said while pinching her arm. " ouch"..she winces nd gulps saliva stricken with reality. He waves at her. She flashes her tooth set unable to hide her happiness and waves back at him
.
The whole classroom is dumbfounded as she gets up and approaches him.He stood there like an ardent admirer. She nears the door and there eyes meet. She could very well hear the gossiping session of her classmates. Blocking all the means to get embarrassed she pulls his hand and nears a corner. It was all smiles between them for few seconds. Her happiness radiated in her doe shaped eyes and priceless smile. The typical girlish thing in Mehak sidelines her happiness. She huffs folding her arms across her chest faking the typical wife's anger. He was about to start the conversation while she cuts off him." Kyun...kis se Milne aaye ho?..ab yaad aa gayi Mehak.. Dehradun Mein toh saaye Ki tarah mera peecha Karta tha...delhi aate hi amnesia ho gaya kya?(you came to meet whom?...now only you remembered me?..you used follow me like a shadow everywhere in Dehradun..as nd when you reached Delhi you got amnesia right?)"..she complains pouting angrily earning a shocked expression from him. "Am sorry Mehak, Actually I thought of not disturbing you since you were having exams"...came his innocent yet sincere reply. For a moment she was in awe with his innocence.How selfless he was. How he cared for her. Such a noble reason behind his disappearance. She couldn't believe, she was doubtful whether he was real or not. His pupils never dilated all the while watching and admiring her.she felt she would get immersed deeply in the ocean of glint in his expressive eyes. Again the thought of his disappearance churned out her inner feelings. " Accha toh tumhe kya laga... Mein itne din padhayi Mein madhosh thi... Baar baar bhoot Ki Tarah tum mere khayalon Mein aate rehte the...(what you thought that I'll be engrossed in studies... how could I...you're thoughts followed me like a ghost all these days).. jahan dekho tum hi tum, ek Gulab jamun tak nahi khayi meine (everywhere I felt your presence... even I couldn't enjoy Gulab jamuns)"...Mehak blurted out everything. His face lit up like anything as she spoke like an annoyed wife all the while worried about her hubby. She bit her tongue reminiscing her words and lowered her face out of embarrassment. "oh I see ..so Miss Mehek Sharma missed me like hell"..he said as he winked naughtily. She looks here and there unable to meet his eyes, while he chuckled seeing her. Meanwhile her classmates passes by them all the while gawking at them. A pissed off mehak asks him.."aaj hi kyun aaye ho?..aur college mein kyun aaye ho?"(why you came to meet me today that too in college?). "I somehow had idea that your exams would finish today..and...the moment I saw you today outside my house, I couldn't resist myself anymore.."he replies with atmost sincerity. While she bites her nails unable to hide her embarassment of being caught by him for her secret visit to his mansion. "I followed you till the college and waited here since then to meet you".. he continued with his heart winning smile.While her lips curved into an O hearing him. "Am so happy today...don't know how I lived all these days without talking to you or meeting you..I guess I've died million times admiring your pics...am on cloud nine today now I can meet you everytime, everyday"...he shouted like an excited child ."tum na poore pagal ho"( you are totally crazy)..she says while hitting his shoulder.to put an end to the further conversation she tries to move. He cages her without letting her move. As she tries to push him aside her pendant gets entangled on his Tee button. A naughty glint appears in his eyes as she tries to detangle. " Easy easy Mehak..what's the hurry?"...he says while catching her palms. His intense gaze studied her face. "Itne dinon baad mile hai...mujhe acche se dekhne toh do( we met after so long...give me a chance to get a proper look)"..he voiced in his magnanimous sensuous tone. Her words died in her mouth hearing him. They shared a deep eye lock resembling a cumulus of sparkling intensity. His breaths falling on her upper lips showcased his craziness for her. Her heart beats rose as his dark orbs sparkled like a goblet intending to swallow her. She gulped saliva as he started detangling the chain without losing the eye contact. "kuch kuch ho raha hai( you feel something )"..his sensuous voice nd breath hits her lips before reaching her ears. She gasps nd nods her head in a no. " matlab bahut kuch ho raha hai(means you are feeling many things)"..he voices with an intense smirk. She again nods her head in a no and whispers his name, pleading him to spare her as his proximity had frozen all her sensory movements. Their noses brushed as he detangled the chain. She let out a gasp feeling relieved. She turns to leave as he softly mutters the three magical words in her ears. Her cheeks blushed deep red. She runs from there out of embarrassment. And halts after covering a few distance. "Don't worry I have your phone number"..came his voice startling her. She wondered whether he had sixth sense or something to read her mind. She slowly turns back only to find him smiling sheepishly enjoying her embarassment. Out of no choice she waves at him and slowly disappears from his sight.
To be continued...
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