It had been a month since Dev's arrival and Sahil was a few steps away from giving the man a few punches. During this whole month he had been accompanying them on every break they took. He even went on their momos date with them. And surprisingly both Pranati and Adarsh had no problem with it.
That man had literally challenged him a few days back saying that he would win Pranati's heart.
Sahil was immensely attracted to her and but was in the phase of denial. He wanted to tell but was afraid of losing her friendship and Dev's flirting with her and their closeness didn't help him at all.
He had noticed how she looked at him and had an inkling that she also had some feelings for him. This thought made him happy. But right now he was furious. They had decided to go to a restaurant to have their dinner and that man had self-invited himself and was flirting with her.
"What do you think about age-gaps?"
This. This is what he was talking about. He had been asking her questions like this and that oblivious girl didn't even notice why he was doing this.
"Age-gaps in what?"
"In marriages."
She thought for some time and then replied.
"I think it has a greater level of understanding kyunki one of the persons is a lot mature than the other aur cheezon ko better samajh skte hai. Not that normal relationships mai nhi hota but yeah. Kyu?"
(Because one of the persons is a lot mature than the other and understands things better. Not that normal relationships doesn't but yeah. Why?)
"Nhi aise hi puchh rha tha. Waise would you want a relationship jisme age-gap jyada ho?"
(Nothing i was just asking. Would you want a relationship which has a big age-gap?)
She shrugged.
"Depends kitna. I mean agar 3-4 saal tak ka ho toh its fine na."
(Depende how much. I mean if its 3-4 years then it's fine.)
"Aur agar 6-7 saal ho toh."
(And if it is 6-7 years.)
Sahil hands were fisted by now. This man was getting on his nerves now. She just chuckled.
"I don't think. I mean meri family mai kisi ke bhi beech mai itna age-gap nhi hai."
(I mean no one in my family has this much age-gap.)
"You could be an exception."
He said suggestively. Sahil was fisting his hand so tight that his knuckles had turned white and his jaw was clenched. She laughed and shook her head.
"No thank you. I don't think i could manage that. Mai kam gap se hi khush hu."
(I am happy with less gap.)
Sahil smirked. 'That's like my girl' he thought and raised his eyebrow at him as if mocking him.
**************************************
Rashi and Vaibhav's engagement was in a week. All the shopping was done. Right now they were in the office and standing in the office balcony. Sahil was jealous of Dev since the beginning maybe because of his closeness with Pranati but he didn't confess. He was still not sure about what he felt and so didn't want to hurt her by giving unnecessary hopes.
"What if its just infatuation?" was what he was thinking.
They were just talking about general things when suddenly a bird sat just in front of them. A shriek left Pranati's mouth. Sahil, Adarsh and Dev, all three of them were confused as to what happened. She had her eyes shut tightly and was shivering and murmuring 'mumma' over and over.
Sahil held her shoulders and she hugged him tight. He was taken aback but wrapped his arms around her. She was shivering very badly.
She said and clutched his shirt tightly still shivering. He could hear her loud heartbeat. Sweat beads formed on her forehead. No one could understand what had happened suddenly and what she was talking about. He took her to her cabin and made her sit. Her rubbed her arms and back to calm her down. Adarsh got her water. She had a few sips.
After a while she started to calm down. Her heartbeat started to get normal. He pulled back slightly and parted her hair from her forehead. He cupped her face and spoke softly.
"Kya hua? Itna kyu ghabra gyi?"
(What happened? Why are you so scared?)
She looked down embarrassed and mumbled something.
(You can tell. No one is going to judge you here.)
Dev said. She smiled at them.
"I- i have extreme ornithophobia. Fear of birds. Isliye jab wo bird waha aayi toh i-"
(That's why when that bird came i-)
"You okay now? God you scared me. Kitni buri tarah kaap rhi thi. Tumhare dil ki dhadkan mujhe itni tej sunai de rhi thi."
(You were shivering so bad. I could hear your heartbeats so loud.)
Sahil said and kissed her forehead and hugged her lightly. The other two asked her to take care and left them alone to give them some privacy.
"I am fine now."
"Hmm."
He still didn't pull away and she snuggled more into him.
"Kab se hai ye?"
(From when is it?)
"Bachpan se."
(From childhood.)
"Any particular reason?"
"Hmm. Jab mai chhoti thi jab ek baar hamare ghar ki bahar taar mai ek kabootar phaas gya tha. Papa ne usse nikala toh wo darr ke maare wo andar aake udne laga. Mere aas paas. Bas tabse."
(Hmm. When i was young then once a pigeon got stuck in a wire nearby. Papa took it out and he got scared and started flying inside. Near me. Since then.)
He kissed her forehead again and pulled her more closer.
That day unknowingly he had promised himself that he would never let any harm come to her. Not even a little bit. They didn't know for how much time they stayed like that but the moment after that surprisingly was not awkward for both of them.
The same night Rashi told her about her date with Vaibhav and asked her to accompany her. Pranati asked her what would she do in her date and Rashi had told her that she will go by saying that she is going with her. She also told him that Sahil would also come. Pranati agreed.
Write a comment ...