CHAPTER - 5

Everyone was walking round and round, and I was sitting immobile on one of the benches in that waiting hall. I leant back, my head against the wall, and closed my eyes swimming in those old, and never-to-forget memories of hers.

I woke up early the next day morning disturbed by those bright sun rays that came through those window curtains. I didn't know when I was drawn back to deep slumber. Her soft caress and warm care rocked me unconsciously taking me back to dreamland. It felt so good and caring. (smiles)

Feeling alone early morning, stuck in this boring place, just having one thing to do : face the ceiling. Last night's pictures suddenly flashed in my mind. Her sudden entrance in the room, sensing her fragrance close to me, adoring her motherly care... (moves in excitement) EEKS! (holds his arm) Ouch ! That hurts.

"Karan, here you go! Something to entertain you when we won't be here for you.", Shakti dropped few books on my covered laps.
"Guys, I may come soon, maybe ten more days. Why so many ?", I checked one by one the works. "You are crazy ! Take all those onesie , I will just keep these two."
"Alright, don't growl.", Rahul frowned. "Oh we completely forgot. Kunal bhai called yesterday..."
"Did you tell him ?"
"Urm... actually..."
"Karan!", the door suddenly slammed open, and the voice that was heard, echoed the death of mine, again.
"What the hell ? What happened to you Karan ?"
"Huh well... I guess you can see that.", I smiled nervously.
"Shut up, you idiot.", that's my sweet elder brother for you.
"We will be waiting outside.", I swear if only Bhai was not there, and if I also felt better, I would have killed this escaping trio.

"Bhai, I am fine. Why are you making such a scene, that too in a hospital ?", he was pacing back and forth.
"Because you are being so careless nowadays. I don't know what to say Karan, but your behavior really scares us."
"I am totally alright. Look!", I stretched my arm and let out a gasp in pain, slapping myself in my mind.
"Thank your physical state for stopping me not smashing your head.", he stopped and neared.

Oh yeah I should.

"Hmm... bhai? Does mah... ?"
"No... I just left once I heard about it.", he surely has heard me sigh. "Don't get this happy, I was willing to. But then even I didn't want to tense her more. I wanted to check you first."
"Bhai, please calm down.", took I both of his hands and made him hold my earlobes, facing him innocently. "I am your chotu right, and when my bhai is there for his chotu, then nothing serious will happen to me.", I believed his care and love for me would help me cover his anger.
"You know it well how to make it up with me, don't you ?", I nodded in yes speedily like a child that I become in front of him. "Alright. I am glad you are doing well. But take care. Don't strain a lot.", he took me in his embrace patting my back softly.

Bhai left for Jaipur on that same evening, not letting anyone doubt at home. Because he promised it to me. Though nervous of hearing him scold, meeting him after so long made me happy for sure. I used to miss him, and sometimes phone calls were not enough. I might sound girly, but even we brothers were very attached to each other. After all, he was around 4 years older than me. I wished, mah was there also, and Daadu... But them coming would mean they would be aware of the situation, and they would have got tensed again. Mah cared for me a lot, I couldn't let anything wrong happen to her, because of me.

Finally, after ten days of suffering here, I was told apt to get discharged. How tiring it is to stay in this place, ugh! Finally, I was feeling better and was able to move my arms and walk properly, pain slowly disappearing far far away. Finally, I was able to meet her, again after days. I have not met her after that day. And my heart was just willing to see her.

"Karan, doctor told you to take rest. Where the hell are you going ?", Gautam asked noticing me getting ready.
"College.", I wore my bag on my shoulder.
"Huuuh? But we don't have morning periods today."
"But she does right?", winked I at him smiling.
"Oh oh. Go my child. Live it."

There her bus was coming. I stood up of my motorbike and ironed fast my shirt when I saw her getting down. She looked so pretty. Her grace was her simplicity, and she was certainly the most graceful. My beautiful angel ! Stop drooling in public Karan (slaps himself).

However, her special curve on those lips was certainly missing on her face, and that made my own smile fade as worry raised somehow.

Crossing the road, her gaze fell on me and she reacted surprised seeing me there. Though she showed tension all over her face a few seconds ago, I was still able now to spot that little smile, kind of relief and happiness distressing her face.

Sending her friends alone inside, she neared me slowly.

"Hi Karan. Gautam bhaiyaa said you were getting discharged yesterday. What are you doing here not taking rest ?"
"Hmm... was feeling bored. Staying alone in a hospital for more than a week really weakened me. So... thought to take some fresh air."
"How are you feeling ?"
"Much better than before now."

She smiled at me before an awkward silence occurred.

"Well, I...", and we ended up chuckling at both trying to kill that awkwardness.
"What did you wanna say ?", she offered the mic.
"Ladies first."
"No it's ok, you say first."
"Hmm... Naina, I... need to talk to you... alone."
"Even I wanted to talk to you but...", she marked a pause of hesitation. "I think I must not wait anymore. I have already been enough late."
"Anything serious ?", her lowered eyes caught the attention of mine.
"Not here. Let's meet for lunch. At the café in the corner."
"I will be waiting.", said I smiling before seeing her enter the building.

4 long hours that I had been waiting there until she came. Long because I started feeling desperate to talk to her. But then, you are waiting for that, which is worth waiting for. And she was worth waiting lifelong.

12.30pm. Oh, there she is. I waved at her and she joined me at table.

"I am sorry. Some sudden emergency with our assignment."
"No problem."
"By the way, I guess you remained here since morning, didn't you ?", she took her seat.
"How .. how do you know ?", I looked at her curiously.
"I think I have started knowing your antics so far."
"Oh really ? And what else do you know about me ?", smirked I.
"This smile of yours believes that you can actually woo any girl. But that's not the truth.", she pointed at my face.
"What ? Have you never seen girls lining up for me ?"

She smiled and looked down at the menu card.

"In fact I thought you were "j"."
"What?", she looked up not understanding.
"J for jealous."
"Oh please."

She suddenly blushed not expecting and showed concentration back on the card.

"I... I think ... you are just a nice person."
"That's all ? Just... a nice person ?"
"Haan, what else?", she told unable to look at me.

She focused on choosing something to order, trying to ignore the topic while I started having fun of that disturbed look of hers. We finally ordered two cold coffees and we carried on with our conversation.

"You said you wanted to tell something. What was that ?", I placed my arms on the table.
"Actually I wanted to talk about ..."

She suddenly got interrupted by a phone call.

"Huuh sorry Karan, I have to..."
"Yeah carry on. I will bring something to eat."

I went to the counter and took time to select something, glancing at her. She looked quite happy talking to that person. Bless that latter for making her smile, though I wished I was also one of them.

"Here your order sir."
"Thank you."
"Yes mumma don't worry!", she noticed me coming. "Ok mumma, I will talk to you in a while. Bye. Love you."
"You seem to love your mother the most right ?", I sat back on my chair.
"Of course I do, a lot. She is my most favourite."
"And what about your father ?"

She was going to sip her coffee when my question stopped her, and she put the cup back on the table.

"I am sorry, did I ask something I shouldn't have ?"
"No, don't worry it's not like that."

I smiled at her.

"I... I have actually never seen my father."
"Oh! I am sorry."
"Not even a picture."
"What ? Not... not even a picture ?", my eyes were widely open.
"I know, this might sound quite shocking.", she lowered her eyes. "Karan, I-I have ... never liked to share about my personal life to someone. You might be one of the first here. And I don't think I should delay ..."
"Look Naina, please don't oblige yourself to do something you don't even want to. This is your own life, and hearing you, I can feel very well how important and traumatizing it can be for you. However..."

My hand slowly reached and caressed her fist she made trying to open up, that made her look at me.

"Let me just tell you one thing, that whatever happens, I will always be here for you."

I took her hand in mine while she looked even more shocked at me.

"Because... I love you. I might look like one annoying jerk following you back but trust me, that's not me. I really feel new when it comes to you, and I really wish it longs forever. I ... I want to be with you, protect you, help you."

She didn't seem to have expected the conversation to turn out into such a conversation as her soft lips slowly parted ways in astonishment.

"I don't know what's bothering you. But believe me Naina, I just don't care about what people would say, or what you think would happen. I just want you to be by my side always. So that even if something happens, I will be sure to be there for you at that moment.", I deepened my eyes into hers.
"How do you believe that I will accept to be yours ?"
"That one night proved everything, when you cared for me, cried for me, prayed for me."
"H-how do you know that ?", her pretty eyes popped out widened.
"Sometimes acting gets really useful.", I smiled nervously scratching my neck nervously.

I was slowly closer her hand in mine but she speeded and jerked it away.

"Does it mean you weren't sleeping ?"
"Urmm... yes."
"You idiot!"

She got ready to hit me but stopped realizing my shorter bandages and that I was not yet fully recovered, and calmed down slowly.

"Sorry yaar. I was just curious to know what you were going to do with me. Who knows ? You might have misbehaved with me while I was sleeping.", I was to slap the drama queen in me. "And I am still young."

She opened her mouth in "o" shape. Oh God, her cute frown were really something else.

"That's it, I am going."

She stood up and walked out but was stopped, my hand holding her beautiful wrist.

"Ok fine I am sorry... again.", I chuckled.
"And for how long would you just keep saying sorry ?", she took few seconds to calm down and turned back to me.

I left her wrist, "I am ready to repeat it lifelong. Are you ready to give me one chance to hear me ?", forwarded I my hand.

"Friends ?", she smiled little and looked at my hand, before holding it slowly and shook it signing the friendship contract.
"Friends."

Both smiled widely at each other, with the hope this new relationship will bring only good memories, at least majorly.

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End of Chapter 5

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L  E  T  '  S    H  A  V  E    S  O  M  E    F  U  N   !

Hi guys ! All well ?

First of all I am REALLY sorry for not being such a punctual character, and not posting chapters soon after the earlier ones. Lack of time (and laziness) could really stop me doing stuffs sometimes, and college work needs loads of attention and focus. I will still try to make it up for you.

Because you guys have been so sweet and so encouraging reading chapters, voting, commenting. I know I have never been good at writing, but writing fanfictions / short stories has become a hobby since a few years and I will certainly try to progress in it. And that thanks to your support and love. *flying kisses*

Coming to the point finally (I know my "bak bak" is too much) ! Since it's a "Swabhimaan" based story, I was willing to know more about the show viewers - and of course those who are not are also the most welcome -, so that we can interact. I have met many people/fans through Instagram, Twitter, but not so many on Wattpad. So launching this new section for all the interactions/questions etc... What say? Also you are always welcome to DM me, I will be glad to reply and chat.

So for today, I will start with telling few facts about me, to introduce myself :

1. My name is Shruthy.
2. I am from Paris (France).
3. I am a Sri Lankan Tamil.
4. I am a huge Indian cinema-addicted spoilt girl, especially South Indian.
5. I love visiting places (but travelling gives me headache).
6. I don't know what else to tell about me so will stop with 5 facts. I will let you guys ask anything you want to know.

Now your turn ?

QOTD : Your favorite holiday destination ?
ME : I would love to go to Switzerland (I told you I am addicted to movies right?), Italy once again, and maybe Colombo (capital of Sri Lanka).

Comment here what you like or not in the story. Reviews help people to write.
If there is any grammatical/language errors, do not hesitate to tell.