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This chap is affectionately dedicated to -
dearfree🖤✨

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"Play me like I'm your favorite song. I know I might not be your favorite forever, but at least. I will be for a moment........................"

"Miru, where are you? Didn't I ask you to be present outside? We're already having very less time."

Sameeksha kind of yelled on the phone. Manjiri had to push her phone a little away from her herself to save her eardrum from getting affected by the other person's shrill loud voice.

"Easy, Sam. Easy. I'm almost done. Coming to you only."

"Ok! Reach this black car the soonest."

"Yeah!"

Manjiri responded and hurriedly marched out of her college building. Sameeksha mentioned black car and that meant his car. Did he too come to pick her along with Sameeksha?

With a huge smile on her face, Manjiri opened the door of the passenger's seat. However, her smile got reduced as her eyes fell on Shreya who was on the driver's seat with her little son, Vaidik who was seated on the passenger's seat waving at her with a toothy smile.

"Submitted your assignment?"

Shreya inquired. To which Manjiri responded with a smile, masking her disappointed look.

How stupid was she to relate his presence with his car!

"Yeah!" No sooner did she move to the back seat and sat besides Sameeksha then she asked, "Where are we heading to now?"

"Boutique first. And then we just need to pick up the cake and be back home. Rest everything is done hopefully..."

Sameeksha mentioned only to get interjected by Shreya in the middle,

"No, it would be better if we go and have something first. As once we'll reach home, I'm sure we won't be getting any time to fill our empty stomachs. Vaidik feels hungry and if we'll tag him along to the boutique like this then he won't let me do anything peacefully."

"Yes, you're right. I remember your baby shower and that crowd now. And most likely, boutique people too must be having lunch right now."

Sameeksha agreed making Manjiri nod her head too.

"Yeah, so there's no point in wasting our time there too from now." Shreya added focussing on the traffic ahead, "Ladies, especially Maa's friends, would surely come before the scheduled time and then they won't let us sit idly. Something or the other will keep on coming flying to us."

Abruptly Shreya's phone began ringing. Sameeksha quizzed when Shreya looked behind with an amused expression,

"Whose is it?"

"Maa."

Barely had Shreya spoken out then all the three ladies giggled hard. Little Vaidik who was completely oblivious with the talks around too started laughing merrily on seeing others giggling like that.

"He's home?"

Manjiri asked Sameeksha in a whisper when Shreya got busy conversing with her mother on phone call whilst waiting their path to get cleared from the traffic-congestion.

"Who?"

"Whose car we are in?"

"Oh yeah. I mean no. He was at home but now he isn't. Car was required for making last minute arrangements so he left it for us and took the bike."

Sameeksha informed and Manjiri put forward her question again,

"For?"

"How am I supposed to know that?"

Sameeksha rolled her eyes and Manjiri let out an understanding sigh. But soon she heard Sameeksha fill her with,

"I just heard him telling Dadi that he was needed to catch up with some people over lunch."

"Sure, there're other hands to hold but they touch my fingertips and not my soul........................"

_

_

_

"To love someone is firstly to confess:
I'm prepared to be devastated by you........................"

Lunch was done. The ladies were but obviously at their usual favourite eating place - 'Mr Drizzy D's Platez'. It was formerly just Sameeksha and Dev who preferred that place's food. But with time, everyone at Mohan and Nanda family began liking it. Thus, now it was everyone's first choice when it came to feasting outside.

Shreya had to take Vaidik to the washroom as he had spilled some food on his and her clothes altogether. He was a handful, especially whilst eating outside.

Manjiri and Sameeksha got engaged in a conversation as they waited for the mother-son duo.

Sameeksha abruptly stopped speaking in the middle. It was then Manjiri looked up at her from her phone.

Sameeksha's gaze was trained behind Manjiri. She looked at her as if contemplating whether to say something or not.

"Is that Shaurya Bhai there?"

Sameeksha asked. Manjiri stiffened involuntarily and turned to follow her gaze. And sure enough it was him. Although he was facing away from her, but she would never in a million years mistake his height, build, hair and of course his that blue shirt against which she sniffed hard in the morning.

Though none of the ladies could see his lunch buddy or buddies from the spot where they were seated, as a broad pillar was playing the role of a hindrance.

Sameeksha suggested Manjiri to join Shaurya when her phone decided to ring. Excusing herself to attend it, she left Manjiri all alone.

At first, Manjiri felt hesitant to go to him. She thought he might be busy because it could be his work-meeting over lunch. But when she again chanced a glance towards him and found him beaming brightly. She kind of got certain that the meeting wasn't related to his work, rather it seemed too personal or could say very frank.

She took out her phone from her pocket and dialled his number whilst eyeing him from the same distance.

In a few seconds, she saw him looking at his phone. But much to her dismay, he took no time in cutting her call. She inaudibly gaped at that.

In an instant, her phone beeped with continuous notifications. It were two texts from him.

A little busy rn.
Will call you back shortly.

Instead of replying to his texts, she got up from her seat and took some steps ahead, possibly to look behind that pillar.

His lunch buddy was definitely someone who Manjiri knew from somewhere. It was his very close friend, Priyal. And from the way she was regarding Shaurya, Manjiri took a deep breath.

She urged herself that there was no need of getting worked up over nothing. But did it really work?

'Don't go over there, Miru'...
'Just leave without them seeing you'...
'It doesn't matter who he is with'... 'She obviously won't harm him'... 'She is just his friend'...

'No, go over there right away'...
'Ask them do they don't meet at their workplace daily, that they require a lunch date to catch up too'...
'He never asked you for any damn lunch, dinner or even a coffee outside, how could he bring his friend here'...
'Priyal is not just his friend but possibly something more'...

Manjiri's later thoughts empowered her mental faculties, and without much delay she made a beeline to their table. She herself didn't understand where did all her initial hesitation vanish?

"Manjiri..."

Priyal spoke up surprised. Manjiri fixed her artificial smile at place when they both looked up at her, both of them equally surprised.

"I saw you just as we were about to leave and I thought I'd stop by and say hi."

Manjiri kind of explained to Shaurya, mentally hoping that he would too put forward his explanation in return. But he just smiled as he got up from his seat.

Priyal and Manjiri exchanged awkward smiles when Priyal informed,

"Shaurya was just telling me about you."

Hearing her, Manjiri turned her face towards Shaurya,

"Was he really? Cause it didn't look like from where I was seating."

Shaurya stared back at Manjiri wondering what was upto her. They were but obviously not her words. While Manjiri just hoped him to understand what was happening inside her, just like he always did. But the look in his eyes was very calm like he wasn't caught up by his wife red-handed. Or it was just that she was overthinking that matter.

Manjiri clearly wanted him to urge her that she should not jump into any conclusions. Only he could manage to erase off that worry within her, no one else could do that, not even she herself.

But he never did that as maybe he didn't notice that.

However, Priyal must've noticed that because suddenly she felt the need to explain.

"He owed me a lunch from so long, and for today I gave him no choice." Priyal muttered jokingly and that was when Manjiri tore her gaze from Shaurya and shot the most genuine but a sheer faux smile she could muster to the speaker. Of course, why would she give him a choice, she just need a chance to grab his attention all to herself, despite knowing that he had a wife whom he should be responsible towards. Manjiri wondered.

"Sit!" That was all Shaurya spoke to his wife when Priyal too suggested, "Yes, please join us."

"Actually, I'm getting late for home. You both carry on."

Manjiri murmured looking at Shaurya and he nodded. He knew she would but obviously prioritize her sister's special day over anything, so it was useless to insist her to stay a little longer there.

"It was nice meeting you, Manjiri."

Priyal spoke up from behind when Manjiri turned to leave.

"Likewise."

Manjiri wished if she could vocalize her true feelings at then. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't see where she was going and realised it very late. She had already bumped into someone making that person drop his things on the floor.

"I'm very sorry. I don't know where I was looking."

Mumbling an apology, she bent down to pick up the things from the floor. There were two folders and an Id card. 'Vinay Jadhav' was the name scribed on that card. Manjiri could tell that the person she bumped into was a medical practitioner as she wasn't an alien with those types of Id cards.

"It's perfectly fine. Thank you."

Dr Vinay Jadhav replied taking back his things from her hands and then marching ahead in hurry. He but obviously had got late due to his some commitments at work.

"And all of a sudden I felt really tired. Like the world has drained me for everything that I had..................."

_

_

_

"Does staying away from the ones you love too much is possible?
Just because those are the ones who can even kill you someday........................."

Manjiri was mad at herself with the fact that her legal husband had that kind of charm which could effortlessly made her lose those precious wits of hers, because of something as stupid as a lunch with an old yet very close friend.

Why was it bothering her that much?

No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to erase off those images from the restaurant.

Flashback of Priyal spoiling their plan of going out together in Chandigarh and also she answering his phonecall in place of his, too began clouding up Manjiri's mind.

Sameeksha's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Wow! I really did a great job. Now we both are actually twinning from head to toe. What say?"

"Yeah. Thanks!"

Manjiri pulled her lips to form a smile. Sameeksha actually did a great job. Getting dolled up for something important had always been a great task for her. She was lucky that she had Sameeksha who was more than willing to lend her hands. Both were dressed in somewhat similar white lehengas in accordance with the theme. Even their hairstyle was almost similar.

"What thanks? Anything for you, Miru darling." Sameeksha exclaimed retrieving something from her handbag. Taking a pause, she added, "By the way, this change suits you. I almost feel excited for Shaurya Bhai's response to your look."

"Forget it! He won't even spare a glance."

Manjiri said, almost bitterly. The bitterness aimed at herself, than anyone else.

"Bet he'll." Sameeksha spoke up applying a red coloured lipstick over her own lips. Suddenly somebody knocked at the door. "Well, speak of the devil and here he comes."

Manjiri looked at Sameeksha wondering why she sounded so certain that it could be him. As in her opinion, he could have done anything than cutting his lunch with his that friend short. Or either they were at the restaurant longer than she thought.

Sameeksha opened the door and it was actually him. Although, Manjiri didn't bother to chance a glance at him.

Shaurya's eyes swept all over his wife with clear appreciation and admiration when he was greeted by her that sight, which he always liked her in. Nevertheless it was once in a blue moon thing as she doesn't wear traditional wears always but when she does nothing else appealed him more than her, so his long stares were obviously unavoidable at then.

Undoubtedly Indian traditional dresses never neglect to spread it's appeal.

Sameeksha cleared her throat making Shaurya tore his gaze from his wife to spare her a glance. She wiggled her eyebrows in a teasing manner. He shook his head at her and walked ahead of her, towards the wardrobe to collect his attire for the evening and then walked inside the washroom to change.

When he returned, he found Sameeksha snatching something from Manjiri's hand.

"Not this, Miru. Try this one."

"I never use such dark shades. It's not me. No offense but I feel like a clown or a parrot in red lipstick."

Manjiri muttered passing back the crimson lipstick and again picking up her all-time favourite peach shade. Shaurya found himself smiling at that.

"What? How can you say that? Be bold and wear this. Red is the perfect colour to wear when you are wearing traditional attires and especially when you go for light shade fabrics." Sameeksha stressed and then when her gaze fell on Shaurya through the mirror. She added making Manjiri's gaze too fall on him, "And yeah, it draws attention too."

Manjiri glared at Sameeksha with wide eyes, her cheeks instantly colouring up. Shaurya felt awkward too, so he turned his gaze making himself busy with his phone.

Sameeksha and Dev, their pair was literally made in heaven. They both couldn't leave a single chance to make others feel embarrassed with their mere looks or remarks.

Giving each other's appearance a last check, both the ladies decided to go downstairs. Just as they were about to get out of the room, Shaurya called out.

"Manjiri."

Manjiri stopped. Sameeksha left from there but not before nudging and offering a teasing look to Manjiri.

"You stay! Till then I'll manage."

"What is it?"

That came out as rude and irritated. Manjiri was clearly in no mood to entertain him and especially on that particular day.

Didn't he have a great time at the restaurant with his that friend that he was now needing his wife too?

Shaurya pulled her hand inside the room and shut the door with his hand, thus trapping her in between the door and him.

"You tell me what is it, huh?"

He didn't even give her chance to squeal her surprise. Awkwardly taking a note of his devilish smirk, she looked aside, clearly not liking the way he was choosing to play with her senses. She felt his eyes roaming all over her face. Getting conscious of her appearance, she meekly quizzed.

"What are you looking at?"

"I'm looking at my Silly Head who is looking very different." He whispered, his breath fanning her entire face. He so wanted to feel her skin with his fingers but he didn't. He feared that he might spoil her look. She actually looked so easy on the eyes. He added passing her his softest smile, "I love the way you're looking today."

Did he just used the word 'love' for her? Yes, he did. She couldn't mistake that. But was it a slip of tongue or he genuinely felt like that. She had no clue that a few simple words from his mouth could make her feel so good about herself. Although, her irritation was still intact within her. It didn't vaporize. Thereby, she chose to not really get flattered. She reminded herself that it was just a trap.

"You would have said the same to the one you were with."

"Are you talking about Dr Sheena or Priyal?"

He chuckled. His wife was really one of a kind. She didn't know how to respond modestly when her husband passes her a genuine compliment. Other typical wives could die for it but she doesn't give a damn.

"Sheena. Meena. Priya. Priyal. Whoever."

She responded with disinterest. His smile widened, inching a little closer to her face, he whispered in all honesty.

"No, they were not looking like this. And most importantly, they were not you. So I didn't say the same to any of them."

"Whatever."

Hardly had that word escaped from her mouth when somebody pushed the door from outside. Shaurya's hand which was closing the door from inside firmly too lost its hold upon it with that sudden push.

As a reward for Shaurya, Manjiri got collided with his chest with that push.

"Bhai, Bhabhi where are you guys? Dadi is asking for you both?"

Dev asked walking in. But found no one. He turned to leave and that was when his gaze fall behind the door.

"My God! You both are unbelievable. What kind of a place is this to hug each other?"

"Ask him. He'll explain."

Manjiri muttered not meeting anyone's eyes and hurriedly made her exit, exasperation was quite evident in her tone.

"You got a little late. What was happening?"

Sameeksha asked pouring tea from the kettle equally in each cup when Manjiri came to help her.

The entire drawing hall was beautifully decorated in accordance with the theme. Couches, centre table and other furniture were shifted to other room to make proper space for the guests to sit in the hall.

Guests, which included only ladies, had started coming.

"Did he show his appreciation? Did he speak to you anything?"

Sameeksha asked again when she got no reply from Manjiri. Manjiri was too pissed to give her a suitable reply.

"Miru, I'm asking you something?"

Sameeksha questioned yet again, this time directly forcing the other one to speak up.

"Yes, he did speak."

"So? What did he say?"

"What are you intending to hear?"

"What did he say after looking at you? Any compliment? That you look gorgeous or something like that?"

"How do you know?"

Manjiri asked raising her eyebrow. Was she eavesdropping? One couldn't predict on certain things, when it came to Sameeksha and Dev. They had that calibre to surprise or shock others with anything, anytime. They were that impulsive.

A satisfied smile managed to leash out from Sameeksha's lips.

"It means he did. Right?"

"Yeah that's what I heard I guess."

"What else did he say?"

"Nothing more."

Manjiri answered with a finality in her voice. But Sameeksha wasn't the one who could be silenced like that.

"You'll hide things from me now?" She added stubbornly, she obviously had put great efforts in changing Manjiri's look. So she wanted to hear that she did an amazing job. "Tell me na! Why are you not telling me?"

"Are you a small girl that you're irritating me with your endless questions? Is he any less for me that you too have started, huh?"

Manjiri snapped irritably taking the tray of tea cups from her hands and walking ahead to offer it to the guests.

Both the girls were unaware that their conversation was being heard by Shaurya and Dev, as they had been standing right behind them.

Sameeksha turned. Giving a pointed look to Shaurya, she probed.

"What did you do, Man?"

"He did what he is seemingly best at, screwing up things." Dev answered in place of Shaurya. Eyeing the other two in a dramatic disappointed manner, he added. "You both have spoiled her mood. You both are just useless. Let me go and cheer her up."

"Yes, Sam, give way to her employed Nanny."

Shaurya remarked sparing a glance at Sameeksha and directly mocking at Dev........

"The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up......................."

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

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Love ♥️✨