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This chap is affectionately dedicated to - chigastar🖤✨

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~Manjiri's Pov~

"The best of you wasn't then and it isn't now,
It's in what has yet to become.....
And you'll surely become!!!"

Hey! Did I ever mention that Dev Bhaiya is very understanding and caring.... then kindly please erase these things from your mind from now because he isn't! Yes, he isn't because he's is literally grilling me with his merciless teasing from last half an hour. And much to my irritation even Dadi is having a good time listening all the details about yesterday from his mouth. But thankfully others are not here, otherwise it would be really unbearable for me.

Well it's a normal Sunday afternoon and all the men of the house are enjoying the holiday at home today. And unlike the other Sundays all the ladies of the house, except Dadi and me, have gone out today in order to attend some family's close friend's daughter-in-law's baby shower. Only I know how hard I tried to convince Chhoti Maa to not take me along as she was after me since morning to join them in attending that function. But I genuinely dislike these kind of gatherings where I don't know anyone at all. And to be honest I find mingling with strangers really very awkward that to specially at that place where I need to plaster a fake smile constantly. Plus Dadi was also not going, so then I decided to not go there at all.

But now I feel that I took the wrong decision, I should have joined them... as at least I don't have to face this Bhaiya's ragging. I can't tell how badly I want to smash his face with this cushion.

"What's happening here?"

Hearing Jiju's voice I turned around and found him coming down the stairs along with Shaurya. Oh no! Both of them had to come now only??? It's literally hard for me to explain that how much I dreaded this moment.....

"Come Ved Bhai, lemme tell you everything about yesterday..."

As both of them settled themselves on the couch, Dev Bhaiya stated this to Jiju while giving me a smirk.

Now I'm gone.... Take me up God! Take me up...

He narrated the whole incident in one go and in between he asked Dadi to place her palm against his cheek, and surprisingly she happily did what he asked her....
Oh no what's happening this?

And to my utter surprise or rather can say shock he started mimicking me... My eyes widened at his act.
Hey! I wasn't doing that at all... and wait, I didn't even smiled a bit at that time.

"Cut it out Bhaiya...
Nothing like this happened, it's all lie."

I whined irritatingly. Everyone around started laughing looking at me and even Shaurya was also having a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.

I wish I could be invisible at this moment.

"Her cheeks were flushing red at that moment....
Right Shaurya Bhai?"

Dev Bhaiya asked with a teasing smile. To which Shaurya answered him plainly while cracking his fingers,

"Well I can make your cheeks red too..."

Saying this he threw the cushion at Dev Bhaiya and to which he ducked it laughingly. Again both Dadi and Jiju started chuckling watching and hearing all this....

"You like it when they tease us?
Why?

Yes I do, because they tease me with your name........"

-

-

-

"Sometimes the people you meet unexpectedly..... may cause something unexpected in your life someday."

Sundays are meant for finishing pending household chores affair.... Right? And on which washing the used clothes of the week always tops the list. So after performing and completing this so called "Sunday Custom", I got downstairs.

Suddenly doorbell's sudden loud sound reached my ears and made me jump. Oh! Looks like they all are back...So early!
I immediately went and opened the door in order to save Dadi's afternoon nap from getting disturbed by the sound of the doorbell.

I opened the door to find the same person whom I met at the reception party.
But what's her name?
It's not clicking my mind, my God!how forgetful I've become..... That day there were so many people whom I met, that I can hardly even remember the names of the 50% of the people who came there.

"Hey Manjiri! it's me Priyal, hope you remember."
She said looking at my face with a hesitant smile.

"Hello, yes of course I do. Please come inside."
I greeted her back while lying smilingly.

I gave her a glass of water when she made herself comfortable on the couch. Taking a sip of water she asked me,

"So how's you?"

"Very well, thanks! What about you?"

"Surviving, I guess."
She answered with a hollow chuckle. To which I too smiled.

Not knowing what to say or ask her next, I simply questioned her

"What would you like to have - tea or coffee?"

"Just Shaurya!"

On hearing her reply my eyes widened a wee bit. Seeing my reaction, she immediately replied again while passing a slight smile.

"I mean I don't want anything.
I came here as I want to seek some information and advice from Shaurya. So please call him....."

I nodded and walked back to the room in order to call him.

"Just because I don't react,
Doesn't mean I don't notice......."

-

"There's nothing wrong with the way you are......."

When I entered the room, I found him busy talking on the phone. I went and stood beside his desk. Looking at me he raised his two fingers at me motioning for me to give him maybe two seconds or two minutes... god knows!

Oh how long will he make me wait like this.

I wonder does this person make his patients wait the same way... hmm if this assumption of mine is true then it's really a very bad thing.
Oh! Then it means Chhote Papa and Chhoti Maa's entire money got wasted on his studies if his patients aren't satisfied with his service......

My insane and terrible suppositions came to a halt when I found him getting up and turning towards me after hanging up the call.

"Priyal is waiting for you downstairs. Come soon!"

Saying this I immediately turned around and left the room. As soon as I started descending the stairs, I heard Jiju calling my name so I dropped the idea to go down and went straight to him.

-

~~~

"Just because I carry it so well, doesn't mean it ain't heavy........"

"May I know what brings you here?"

Shaurya asked Priyal straightforwardly while narrowing his eyes. To which she took a deep sigh and replied

"Isn't it obvious? Huh?"

Getting no response from his side she added

"Since you were unavailable on the phone. So I thought face to face communication would be more effective...
Moreover, since you weren't responding to my texts or calls so I called Shreya Di and she told me that you're at home. So I directly came here."

"Okay! Show me the reports."

Shaurya said these words plainly while extending his hand.
Placing certain documents in his hands, Priyal uttered these words with a sad smile

"So you did read my texts but didn't even bothered your fingers to type out something atleast."

Hearing her taunt he paused for a moment but didn't look at her, as his eyes were trained on the reports of her friend's father who was suffering from some spinal deformities.

Breaking a long pregnant pause, she asked him

"So enjoying your new phase of life?"

"Immensely!"

His this word pricked her heart. Though she had made up her mind to let go of everything but still a part of her still wanted to nurture her high hopes again. Anyhow she suppressed her never fulfilling desire and with a heavy heart she said

"That's great!
Well honestly I figured this out that day only when I saw you both dancing together.....
I'm glad to hear that you're happy with her."

"Happy for me?
Really?
That's why you keep on inserting useless things in Shreya Di's mind....."

After giving her a sarcastic and humourless chuckle he uttered these words in a rough tone. Getting hurt by his tone and words she questioned him straight,

"For how long will you keep on thinking of me so low?"

"Correct me if I say something wrong. Haven't you ever stooped low? Huh?"

"If I have any kind of superpowers, then honestly I would go back to the past and would prevent the 17 year old me from making those mistakes and spoiling everything. For years, I'm living my life in sheer guilt.

Never mind, whether you believe it or not I genuinely have no grudge against Manjiri,......but I do have one against your so called sister in law. She shattered all my hopes the day she convinced you to marry her sister...."

He wanted to say a lot in return but seeing her moist eyes, his mind refused to utter anything. At then he realized maybe he has become more gentler and considerate than before. Probably it's because of Manjiri as being with her he effortlessly pushes himself to be more and more a tender hearted person. Taking a deep sigh, he questioned her calmly

"Till how long will you be like this?...
I mean for your own sake please move forward in life."

"I wish I could.... It's easier said than done.
You know I met some of our school friends last Sunday, from there I got to know that he too is going to get engaged soon....."

Taking a pause she added,

" Over the years, I don't know what's preventing me to forget that all.... either my guilt or my feelings for you or maybe both..."

Shaurya looks at his surroundings and interrupts her in the middle of her sentence by saying,

"Hey! Please stop saying these words."

It's quite clear that he didn't want Manjiri to hear these things. Though there was nothing to hide as there was nothing from his side, but still he feared her habit of making wrong assumptions and then bottling up her feelings.
Moreover, he didn't want to give her any kind of mental exhaustion specially now when slowly things are becoming better, so he believed that it would be better if she didn't hear all this.
On the other hand, after understanding the true meaning of his words Priyal got up saying while giving an apologetic slight smile,

"Umm, yes... I understand.
Have to go some where, so I'll be get going now."

"I'll go through the reports and let you know the possibilities by evening."

He too got up and saying this. She nodded and turned around.

"I hope when we meet next time, I can see the same Priyal in you who used to be a good friend of mine."

Hearing his kind words after years, she felt a happiness surge in her heart. She mentally thanked God for atleast giving his friendship back.

He added,
"Take care!

"You too... Bye!"

With this she left smilingly. He closed the door and suddenly the sound of someone rushing down the stairs reached his ears. He turned around and found..........

"You deserve to be forgiven,
Coz everyone makes mistakes........."

~~~

This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.

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