Started on 24.8.2020

Checking the time in his watch Sujal realizes that he is late for office as he walks towards the door. While passing by the sitting area he gets called by his first love - his dear mother Veena,

"Sujal!"

"Ji Mumma.",

comes the immediate reply of the obedient child hidden in Mr. Sujal Garewal as he turns to address her.

Walking to the love of her life - her elder son Sujal, Veena, smiling lovingly at him, places her right hand on his left upper arm and asks him,

"Beta tum seedhe office hi ja rahe ho ya kahin aur bhi kaam hai?"

"Office hi ja raha hun Mumma.",

comes an honest reply from Sujal, but then when has he ever lied to his mother?

"Agar office hi ja rahe ho to raste mein Kashish ko 'Mehra Sarees' mein chorte hue chale jaoge please?",

requests Sujal.

Sujal looks towards his second love - Kashish, as his heart skips a beat hearing Veena's order. Smile of awkwardness stretched on his lips.

Kashish who was busy plating breakfast for Veena, gets surprised too, on hearing Veena and looks towards Veena, followed by looking towards Sujal. She realizes that Sujal must be feeling awkward, such is the relationship between these two. Hence she decides to save themselves from getting into yet another awkward situation of going out together, though not the first time post their marriage. But their awkwardness seems so fresh each time they end up going to any place together. Thank god incidents such as this one though haven't happened many times.

"Ahmm... Koi baat nahi Mumma main chali jaungi.",

she says, looking towards Veena, avoiding to look towards Sujal.

"Waise bhi inhe office mein zaruri kaam hoga. I'll... I'll manage.",

she adds, looking towards Sujal.

Sujal stares her, realizing that she is trying to ward off the awkward situation as well.

Veena turns to look towards Kashish and says, sternly,

"Kashish, apni patni se important bhi koi kaam ho sakta hai kya?"

Veena succeeds in skipping the heartbeats once again of both of her obedient listeners.

Sujal blushes hearing that and slowly looks towards Kashish, with his heart filled with only love and warmth for his dear wife. 

Kashish stares Veena helplessly, stuck in the situation. She looks towards Sujal, softening her eyes as if apologizing Sujal for failing in getting them out of this situation. Sujal smiles inwardly, what is she even apologizing for? When has need come for Kashish to apologize Sujal for anything, let alone this precious moment that his mother has bestowed on him, if not on her!

Taking a deep breath, Sujal smiles looking towards Veena and accepts,

"Theek hai Mumma, main le jata hun Kashish ko."

Sujal then looks towards Kashish, asking her through his one stare that is she ready to go!

"Ahmm... main bus panch minute mein aati hun.",

says Kashish and leaves for her room.

*****

In her room Kashish gets ready. Standing in front of the mirror, whilst changing her earring, Kashish wonders,

'Shadi ke baad ye pehli baar ho raha hai ke Sujal ke saath kahin jane ke liye main excited hun. Par... Par main khush kyun ho rahi hun? Kyun iss safar mein Sujal ka saath pa kar mujhe... mujhe ghutan nahi ho rahi balki rahat ka ehsaas ho raha hai?'

(Kashish's background tune begins)

Cascading her eyes, Kashish tugs her hair strand behind her ear, nervously.

Into the mirror she discovers Sujal's reflection. They stare each other on the mirror.

'Main nahi jana chahti Sujal. Please... please ye hone se rok lo.'

'Yakeen mano Kashish, agar mere bus mein hota, to iss situation ko badal deta. Nahi karne deta tumhe kuch bhi aisa jiske liye tum taiyar na ho.'

Kashish lowers her eyes, having nothing to convey to him further silently.

"Chalein?",

asks Sujal, holding his breath, staring her through the mirror.

Kashish nods in affirmative, staring back towards him. She turns and stares him for some more awkward moments before they together walk out of the room.

*****

Reaching the main hall, Kashish hugs Veena before bidding her goodbye.

"Bye Mumma!",

wishes Sujal too, smiling.

Together they walk out.

*****

Sujal's phone happens to ring while he was busy in driving.

A bit hesitantly, he asks Kashish,

"Ahmm... Kashish, zara dekhogi kiska call hai?"

Kashish looks towards his shirt pocket inside which the phone is vibrating.

She takes her hand into his pocket to bring out his phone and check the name of the caller.

Smiling, she says,

"Kanan."

Sujal smiles too.

"Kanan tumhe call kyun kar rahi hai waise?",

asks Kashish, looking towards Sujal, knitting her brows.

"Wo to call receive karne par hi pata chalega na Kashish?",

smiles Sujal.

Shaking her head, Kashish receives the call.

"Hello!",

greets Kashish.

"Aap? Aap Jiju ke phone ke saath kya kar rahin hain Di?",

asks Kanan, disappointed on hearing Kashish over Sujal.

Kashish doesn't understand why she feels offended hearing that. But she gets adamant at teaching her little sister some lesson!

"Kanan, ye mere pati ka mobile hai. Agar unki patni ne receive kar liya call to iss mein itna chaunkne ki baat kya hai?",

scolds Kashish mildly. Emphasizing on 'mere pati' and 'unki patni'.

That tugs Sujal's heart. He smiles and blush creeps up his cheeks.

Irritated, Kanan says,

"Acha theek hai ab aap apne pyare pati ko phone dijiye."

The word 'pyare' skips Kashish's heartbeat and she cascades her eyes.

"Nahi de sakti!",

says Kashish, looking ahead, teasing her and puts the call on speaker to let Sujal enjoy the conversation as well.

"Arey ye kya baat hui? Aap kyun Jiju ki life ki Hitler bani hui hain Di?",

asks Kanan, going restless.

Sujal widens his eyes hearing that. How he holds his fit of laughter, only he knows.

"Main... Main Hitler bani hui hun?",

asks Kashish, shocked to be tagged as 'Hitler'.

Sujal turns his face away from Kashish to laugh secretly. But Kashish doesn't fail to realize that and feels awkward.

"Aur nahi to kya? Bechare Jiju to humesha apki har baat chup chap mann lete hain.",

says Kanan.

Sujal shakes his head, amused, but unable to understand how to react to it.

"Bechare Jiju?",

murmurs Kashish, unable to bear the fact that her sister instead of taking her side is constantly talking about her husband.

Sujal rests his elbow on the door to his right and the fingers of his hand rests on his lips and cheek, staring Kashish for some moment, he enjoys her getting jealous of him on receiving all of her sister's attention.

"Kanan tum milo mujhse fir tumhe batati hun.",

Kashish tries scaring her by her words.

Sujal laughs silently.

Kanan laughs too and says,

"Di aap bhool rahi hain ab main akeli nahi hun. Jiju hain na mujhe bachane ke liye. Hai na Jiju?",

laughs Kanan, excited.

Kashish stares the phone in utter shock, smile twitching her lips.

Sujal enjoys the banter between the sisters and just to add fuel into the fire, Sujal, looking towards the mobile, favours Kanan,

"Haan... haan main to humesha....",

he stops abruptly.

Kashish stares him holding her breath. 

Turning to look towards Kashish, staring her throughout Sujal says, slowly, softly,

"Main humesha tumhare saath hoon!"

(Thodasa pyar hua hai slow guitar tune)

Kashish goes crimson red hearing him. She controls the smile of satisfaction upon hearing his words, as she realizes that being Piyush's widhwa, it is a sin to smile and feel comfortable in Sujal's presence. She is meant to stay uncomfortable in his presence. She is meant to feel insecure in his presence. But then why is she feeling the opposite of these emotions?

Suddenly she feels suffocated; urgency of getting out of this situation grips her.

She looks away, anxiously.

Sujal takes the receiver from her and turning off the speaker, he puts the mobile on his ear, whilst driving.

"Acha ye batao tum logo ke liye kya laun?",

asks Sujal, smiling.

On hearing that Kanan calls out Mauli and Charu shouting in excitement,

"Sujal Jiju humare liye bhi gifts lane wale hain."

Sujal laughs, enjoying hearing their excitement.

"Jiju mere liye na ek...",

begins Kanan but the phone gets snatched by Charu, and she puts in front of Sujal, her demand,

"Hello Jiju mere liye ek achi si dress lana jo latest fashion ki ho."

Sujal laughs yet again and says,

"Okay...",

but his okay to Charu gets heard by Mauli, who by then had taken over the phone and begins to talk about her demand.

"Jiju mujhe nail polish lene the. Please aap kuch ache shades le ana na.",

requests Mauli.

"Theek hai Mauli le aunga.",

laughs Sujal, looking towards Kashish.

Kashish, still resting her elbow to her side, slaps her forehead lightly, shaking her head, smiling.

"Acha Jiju...",

says Mauli, getting a bit apologetic.

"Haan?",

says Sujal, turning a bit serious on hearing the change in Mauli's voice.

"Di gussa hain kya humse?",

she asks, hesitantly.

Sujal turns to look towards Kashish, who is staring out turning towards her left and says,

"Mauli, Kashish tum logo se kabhi gussa ho hi nahi sakti."

Kashish turns to look towards Sujal on hearing that. It comes as a surprise for her.

(Thodasa pyar hua hai's ending guitar tune)

"Jaan ho tum sub uski.",

smiles Sujal.

Kashish knits her brows lightly. His words touch her heart.

"Nahi Bhaiya, sirf hum hi nahin, balki humse zyada aap unki jaan hain.",

says Mauli, smiling.

Sujal smiles and blushes, lowering his eyes.

Kashish gets anxious to know what made him to blush and smile!

"Bhale hi Di apse khul kar kuch na kahein, magar hum subne dekha hai unki ankhon mein apke liye pyar.",

says Mauli.

Sujal's heart aches out of love for Kashish. He too wants to witness her love for him; her concern for him, more often. He wants her to share with him how she feels when he leaves for office, keeping her away from his company. Does she crave for his return? Does she too feels satisfied; relaxed upon resting her eyes on him when he returns from office as much as it satisfies him when he gets to see him after his hectic schedule?

"Acha Jiju...",

Mauli begins to ask something but gets intervened by Sujal,

"Mauli tum Bhaiya se fir Jiju par aa gayi?"

Mauli holds her tongue in between her teeth, blushing.

Smiling, Sujal says,

"Tum Bhaiya hi bulaya karo ussi ki adat parh gayi hai mujhe. Aur such bataun to mujhe acha bhi lagta hai.",

he smiles more.

That melts Mauli's heart and she smiles wider.

Raising her voice in order to tease her sisters, Mauli says,

"Theek hai Sujal Bhaiya aaj se main....",

she corners her eyes to look towards her sisters and continues,

"Aur sirf main apko Bhaiya bulaya karungi. Baki subko Jiju bulana hai to bulaye.",

and she shows attitude in front of her sisters.

Her tone makes Sujal to laugh out loud.

Where on one hand Mauli's sisters get jealous of her hearing that; there on the other Kashish gets jealous of Sujal on realizing the length of the conversation with Sujal exceeding to the length of the conversation her sisters had with her.

No doubt he is their most favourite family member! The thought makes Kashish to roll her eyes.

Sujal blushes and his heart fills with love for Mauli.

"Hmm... tum log ye batao ke tum log kis din free ho? Soch raha hun tum sub ko movie dikha laun koi achi si.",

smiles Sujal.

Kashish fails to tolerate his sudden change in preference and immediately takes the mobile from him and scolds them mildly,

"Koi zarurat nahi hai kahin jane ki. Charu ke exams hain. Mauli tumhe apne kaam par focus karna hai. Kanan ke exams aa rahe hain. Aur Mehak... Mehak ko agar movie dekhne jana hoga...",

turning to look towards Sujal, glaring him, Kashish continues,

"To wo Varun ke saath chali jayegi."

Sujal widens his eyes, finding this attitude of Kashish's amusing, his eyes stuck on the road as he drivers, but his mind stays occupied by Kashish's words, repeating them in his mind on loop!

"Kashish... jane do na. Ek din ki hi to baat hai.",

requests Sujal, without turning to look towards Kashish.

Kashish glares Sujal, though not with anger.

"Di... jane do na.... please...",

requests Charu.

"Charu tumhare Jiju to tum subko bigad sakte hain par main tum subko bigadne nahi dungi. So no movie date, it's final.",

says Kashish, sternly.

Sujal arches a brow, not daring to argue on that.

"Jiju... kuch kahiye na aap.",

says Charu, helplessly.

"Charu mobile speaker par nahi hai to tumhare Jiju tumhari baat nahi sunn pa rahe.",

says Kashish, strictly.

Sujal skips Kashish's heartbeat by parking the car at a corner and taking his ear closer to the phone such that Kashish and Sujal sit just inches apart. Kashish's cheeks immediately turn hot out of the sudden closeness. Sujal in his state of fun, doesn't realize what he just did. But as soon as he does realize, he too shares the state in which Kashish finds herself. He widens his eyes, feeling guilty of crossing his limits with his wife!

Slowly he gets away, staring Kashish with guilty eyes. His cheeks blushed up out of guilt. Kashish stares him too, blushed herself, unable to understand how to react to this situation.

After a beat or two Kashish realizes that she should cascade her eyes. Slowly she lowers her eyes, trying to focus on her sisters but her mind remains clouded by the thought of the moment that they shared moments ago.

Sujal stares Kashish, feeling guilty of his act. He shouldn't have done that he realizes for the umpteenth time in such a brief moment. He, the husband of Kashish, made her feel uncomfortable by getting closer to his wife. He turns to look ahead and focuses back on his driving. His brows knit together; his eyes on the road, never blinking. His mind gets filled with thoughts of Kashish and the moment that they shared just now. He wants to cherish the moment, but this guilt, it is prohibiting him from doing so.

He slowly looks towards Kashish and finds her extra happy. That results in his drowning into the pool of guilt all the more. She stays happy only in his absence! He needs to give her space.

*****

Soon they reach the shop. Unlocking the seat belt Sujal exits the car. Kashish too does that whilst talking to her sisters over phone. Upon exiting the car, Kashish notices how Sujal stays oblivious to her, so unlike himself. Kashish stares him standing at the left side of the car while he stands on the right, thinking.

"Ahmm... Main tum logo se baad mein baat karti hun.",

says Kashish, staring Sujal throughout, serious.

Walking to him, staring him skeptically throughout, Kashish forwards the mobile in front of Sujal which succeeds in skipping Sujal's heartbeat, dragging him out of his thoughts. Never taking his eyes towards Kashish, he accepts the phone, staring the phone.

"Unhone tumhe 'bye' kaha hai.",

says Kashish, slowly, gauging his mood and reaction.

Sujal, smiles, still not looking towards Kashish.

They walk forth to cross the road. Sujal was focusing on the traffic when Kashish's words skip his heartbeat. Standing at a little distance from him, behind him, staring him throughout, her head bowed a little out of nervousness, awkwardness, Kashish says slowly,

"Mujhe aaj bhi akele road cross karne se darr lagta hai!"

Her words skip Sujal's heartbeat and succeed in reminding him many old sweet memories that he shared with her.

*Flashback*

"Chalo pohnch gaye Madam. Ab tum jee bhar kar shopping karna aur main jee bhar kar tumhe shopping karte hue dekhunga.",

flirts Sujal, sitting inside the car, trailing her face line with his index finger.

Shy Kashish looks away, smiling, blushing, and pushes his finger lightly.

Sujal laughs silently, enjoying teasing her.

"Agar mujhe dekhna hi hai to wo to aap mujhe office mein bhi dekh sakte hain.",

says Kashish, keeping her eyes cascaded, blushing still.

"Kahan?",

says Sujal, raising his voice a little, out of regret.

"Kabhi Papa aa jate hain. Kabhi Lalit Uncle. Aur wo Piyush... wo to mano notice mein rakhta hai ke kab hum do becharon ko kuch pal akele saath miley aur wo humare beech chala aaye, kabab mein haddi!",

Sujal shows his disappointment.

Kashish laughs and says,

"Piyush Sir ko kyun blame kar rahe hain aap? Unhe kya pata ke mere boss mujhe kis kis tarah tang karte hain."

That skips Sujal's heartbeat and he gets a reason to flirt with her further. Getting closer to her, holding the seat where she rests her head, Sujal smiling naughtily, asks her,

"Hayee... kis kis tarah tang karta hoon main tumhe Kashish?"

Kashish blushes profusely, smiling throughout.

Staring away from him out of shyness, Kashish asks,

"Office mein konsa boss apni employee ko ek hi cabin mein hote hue message karke usse baat karne ke bahane dhundhta hai, pata nahi kya kya unimportant questions puch kar?"

Kashish then looks towards him, challenging him to reply to that.

Sujal shows his disappointment on her question by saying, knitting his brows,

"Arey unimportant kahan? 'Tum ghar kitne baje jaogi?' kya koi unimportant question hai Kashish?",

he asks in shock.

Kashish slaps her forehead in defeat and looks towards him, narrowing her eyes on him, she asks,

"Acha ye unimportant question nahi hai?"

"Bilkul bhi nahi.",

says Sujal, acting to be very serious about it.

That makes Kashish to laugh silently all the more.

"Acha chaliye ab warna abhi Papa ka phone aa jayega fir dukan ko durr se dekh kar hi humein ghar wapas jana hoga.",

laughs Kashish.

Sujal laughs too and together they exit the car.

"Oh god!",

says Kashish, nervous, looking towards the heavy traffic.

"Kya hua?",

asks Sujal, knitting his brows.

"Ab road cross karna hoga?",

asks Kashish.

"Haan to?",

asks Sujal, staring her quizzically.

"Mujhe road cross karne se thoda dar lagta hai.",

says Kashish, making sad face, looking towards Sujal.

"Mujhe pehle din hi shaq ho gaya tha tumhare pair defected hain!",

teases Sujal.

Kashish narrows her eyes on him, holding her waist from either sides, she asks him,

"Matlab?"

That reminds both of them their first meeting in the pharmacy.

"Isliye to tumhe darr lagta hai road cross karne se.",

says Sujal, hiding his amusement.

Kashish narrows her eyes on him.

"Aur dekho na mere cabin mein atey atey tum kabhi Piyush ke cabin mein chali jati ho; kabhi Papa ke to kabhi Lalit uncle ke.",

teases Sujal further.

"Sujalll....!!!",

scolds Kashish, mildly.

That makes Sujal to laugh.

"Chalo apna haath do!",

says Sujal forwarding his hand to her.

"Apko? Kabhi nahi!",

Kashish looks away, folding her arms upon her chest, showing attitude to Sujal.

Sujal stares her in utter shock, hiding his amusement, enjoying her adamant self.

"Tum mujhe apna haath nahi dogi?",

asks Sujal, staring her sternly.

"Kabhi nahi!",

jokes Kashish, acting to be serious about it.

"Sochlo itni aasani se Sujal Garewal kisi ke saamne haath nahi failata. Tumhare samne aur bus tumhare samne faila raha hai!",

says Sujal, giving her a warm and possessive stare, smiling.

(Thodasa pyar hua hai guitar tune of last line)

Kashish laughs silently whilst staring towards his extended hand, as if still considering.

"Ahmm....",

thinking further, she says,

"Nahi chahiye apka haath!",

and laughs looking towards a shocked Sujal.

Disappointed and shocked, Sujal asks Kashish,

"Kashish tum... tum mujhe mana kar rahi ho?"

Kashish enjoys his disappointment and shock, and to tease him further she nods her head into affirmative twice in quick succession, laughing throughout, gauging his expressions.

Sujal suddenly turns fragile, pleading Kashish,

"Please mera saath mat choro Kashish!"

Kashish's smile elopes immediately, on hearing the plead.

"Sujal...",

she exclaims, staring him.

"Main kuch bhi bardasht kar sakta hun Kashish, magar tumse durri....",

he trails off and shakes his head into negative before continuing,

"Main marr jaunga Kashish. Aur kisi tarah zinda raha bhi to bejaan shareer hogi wo meri jo sirf apne iss shareer ke nasht hone ka intezaar kar rahi hogi! Kyunki jab dhadkane hi dil se juda ho to wo dil bhi kis kaam ka?"

(Starting tune of sad version of thodasa pyar hua hai)

They stare each other. Both realizing the depth of his feelings that he poured in his words.

Kashish's throat chokes hearing Sujal. Smiling lovingly, she places her hand on his hand, Sujal holds it possessively, staring her throughout.

"Waada karta hun Kashish, chahey raasta kaisa bhi ho, humesha tumhara saath nibhaunga.",

says Sujal, staring her throughout.

His words touch Kashish's heart. She stares back lovingly, holding her emotions.

*Flashback ends*

Sujal's heart skips another beat upon getting out of the love bubble that he had been visiting through this memory of theirs.

He looks towards Kashish, all calmly, and thinks,

'Jo wada kiya tha uss wade ko main aj tak nahi bhoola hun Kashish. Aur akhri dum tak uss wade ko shiddat se nibhaunga. Ye 'aaj' wada karta hun tumse.',

emphasizing on 'aaj' (today)!

Kashish, realizing that his eyes are on her and understanding what he must be remembering as the same incident flashes in front of her eyes too, without any effort, ignores looking towards Sujal.

Sujal stares Kashish, smiling a little. Kashish avoids looking towards Sujal out of hesitation.

(Thodasa pyar hua hai guitar tune begins)

He forwards his hand to her just like earlier times.

Kashish looks towards his extended hand, all serious. Then looks towards him, the depth of his feelings that she witnesses in his eyes, results in her trembling a little and slowly she cascades her eyes. The reason of her cascading of her eyes, she fails to understand is of guilt of hurting him for no reason!

"Ahmm... it's okay.",

she says, avoiding to look towards him.

She adds further,

"Maine apne raaste par akele chalna seekh liya hai!"

Her words pierce Sujal's heart. He stares Kashish seriously. 

Kashish keeps her eyes cascaded knowing that he is staring her.

Sujal smirks, cascading his eyes and lowers his hand slowly.

As Kashish was about to cross the road she doesn't realize when a car reach towards her in high speed; but Sujal does notice it at the right time. Terrified, he holds Kashish from both of her upper arms and pulls her to himself such that her back collides with his chest.

Kashish after the initial shock of being pulled gets shocked by the collision of herself and Sujal. Immediately she turns her head up to look towards him, her body weight put on his body as she stands in his embrace.

Sujal after staring towards the car, knitting his brows, turns to look towards Kashish in order to make sure that she is fine, and gets surprised to find her staring him already. It doesn't take him much time as he stares back, to realize that her eyes are filled with emotions that he had lost witnessing in her eyes for himself, long ago. His cheeks warm up as the innocence in him fails him to understand how to react to her sudden intimate stare which once he was accustomed to!

"Akele chalna sirf humari majboori ho sakti hai Kashish....",

shaking his head, he continues,

"Humari khushi nahi!",

he keeps staring her, keeping his brows knit.

That skips Kashish's heartbeat as she connects his words to her life's path where she is bound to walk without her husband..... Piyush!

But soon her mind again drifts to Sujal. His eyes, the way he is staring her at the moment, binds her to him. Her eyes soften, and she feels frustrated as she could read nothing but pure love for herself in his eyes! She involuntarily tightens her hold on his upper arm, slowly, as if wanting to feel him properly. His feel gives Kashish a sense of satisfaction which Kashish refuses to accept.

Sujal slowly lets her stand. As he begins doing it, Kashish cascades her eyes realizing that she had been staring. But Sujal keeps his stare intact on her.

Standing up, Kashish looks towards him for further few moments when Sujal too stares back.

"Chalein Kashish?",

Sujal realizes he needs to make the move to end this situation.

As much as he is enjoying the stare, he shall not forget that they are standing at the road side.

As they begin to walk again, Kashish takes Sujal by surprise, as she herself entwines her fingers into his, slowly. 

Sujal's cheeks start warming up along with Kashish's as Kashish very slowly, hesitantly moves her hand into his hand to hold it. Sujal closes his eyes feeling her as if the blessings of god are showering on him. His face expression remains plain, as he as always succeeds in hiding his rushed up feelings for her. The only medium to know his current state has always been his eyes, which too he chooses to close, in order to zero down his focus on to the feel of her soft hand into his hard one. He scares to tighten his hold on her delicate hand for the initial few moments; fearing that if he holds it with all of his emotions that are flooding inside his heart at the moment for her, her delicate hand might not be able to bear the burden of it. 

He holds her hand softly, tight enough to pull her if need comes again. Together they finally cross the road. 

As they were about to climb the stairs to reach into the market, Kashish reminds Sujal of his hold on her hand, addressing him, looking towards him,

"Sujal...."

The moment Sujal looks towards her to know what made her to call him, his eyes rest on Kashish's. Kashish slowly cascades her eyes and looks towards their tangled hands. Realization of it makes Sujal to blush and widen his eyes, his face expression remains serious out of awkwardness. He once again looks towards Kashish, apologetically. That makes Kashish feel uncomfortable and she cascades her eyes again.

Turning his head in front, he finally walks forth releasing his held breath.

Kashish follows him.

As they reach in front of the shop, Sujal asks Kashish, looking towards her,

"Tum khud ghar chali jaogi ya main wait karun?"

Tugging her hair strand behind her ear, Kashish replies, avoiding to look towards Sujal,

"Ahmm.... main khud chali jaungi."

Sujal stares her, smiling a little. After a brief moment he teases her by asking,

"Road cross kar logi khud ya main wait karun?"

(Thoda sa pyar hua hai tune which plays before the para 'aaj ye kya hua hai')

Kashish stares Sujal, smiling infectiously at him, her eyes scolding him mildly for teasing her.

Sujal smiles wide, staring her throughout.

Vibrating of his phone distracts both of them and results in bringing their precious eye contact to an end.

Kashish adjusts her strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes cascaded, while Sujal gets busy in the conversation with a client.

As he ends the call and Kashish looks towards him curiously, Sujal tells her,

"Meeting postpone ho chuki hai. Kal hogi."

They stare each other. The twinkle in Kashish's eyes, Sujal doesn't fail to notice.

"Ahmm... tum chaho to main tumhare saath chal sakta hun!",

says Sujal, smiling at her infectiously.

Slowly, Kashish smiles too and cascades her eyes.

"Road cross karne mein tumhe problem bhi nahi hogi.",

teases Sujal, staring her.

Kashish stares back, smiling.

Shaking her head, she cascades her eyes.

Sujal smiles too, enjoying witnessing Kashish's shyness.

Together they walk into the shop.

As she completes with her work, Sujal says,

"Tum apne liye bhi kuch le lo Kashish."

That comes as a surprise for Kashish.

"Ahmm... Nahi Sujal. It's okay. Chalte hain.",

says Kashish.

Sujal smiles and gestures her to move forth, passing by him.

As he was about to walk too, his eyes falls on a particular dark blue coloured saree. Immediately he gets an urge to buy it for Kashish. Looking towards Kashish, who was checking a particular saree, Sujal turns to look towards the saree that he had seen, taking it he unwraps it. Walking to Kashish,he covers her head with the saree, like a veil, as if she is a new bride. His sudden gesture skips Kashish's heartbeat, making it to beat at a higher pace and she whispers in sudden shock,

"Sujalll...!",

breathing heavily.

Sujal slowly pulls her with himself towards the mirror of the shop. Staring her into the mirror. Kashish stares at herself too. Then towards Sujal into the mirror.

Sujal doesn't put his desire of buying the saree for her in words in front of Kashish. But his possessive stare into the mirror, tells Kashish how he wants to buy it for her. He slowly leaves her and cascades his eyes, smiling a little. Her veil falls as he leaves her, but Kashish's hand on the saree saves it from falling completely.

Sujal walks away, giving her space to think and decide. Kashish turns and looks towards the retreating figure of Sujal, all seriously. She slowly again looks at herself into the mirror.

*****

Kashish reaches the counter for the bill. Sujal stands with her, wondering did she take it or not. When Kashish's eyes fall on Sujal, standing in dilemma, Kashish upon realizing the reason, slowly uncovers the box filled with the saree that he chose for her; her eyes remain cascaded.

Sujal's heart flutters seeing that. Smile stretches on his lips and his cheeks blush. He stares Kashish, lovingly. Kashish initially doesn't realize his staring her, but when she does and turns to look towards him, she blushes too, though she doesn't smile out of awkwardness and slowly cascades her eyes again. Sujal pays and they exit the shop.

As they walk  out of the shop, Sujal hesitantly yet hopefully asks Kashish,

"Kuch khaogi?"

Kashish shakes her head into negative, without looking towards him.

Sujal's heart breaks, but he doesn't complain, as usual.

They reach the point when they have to cross the road again.

Together they turn to look towards each other, both the hearts nervous and hesitant.

Both cascade their eyes hesitantly. Sujal slowly looks towards her again, his heart throbbing inside his chest. But he doesn't make any effort to touch her. Slowly as he extends his hand towards her, staring her nervously, Kashish surprises him as well as herself by wrapping her arms around his upper arm.

Their rate of heartbeat accelerates as they feel the heat of their closeness.

Upon realizing that she is getting comfortable with him, Sujal skips Kashish's heartbeat by pulling her further closer to himself. Kashish stares him in shock, but doesn't complain.

While crossing the road, Sujal feels the sudden turning of her hold on his upper arm tight. He doesn't turn to acknowledge it, owing to the fact that they were at the middle of the traffic, but doesn't fail to take a deep breath as he realizes it.

Entering the car, they head towards home when they happen to pass by a particular road side shop where the vendor is selling paubhaji. Sujal stops the car in front of the shop and looks towards it. Kashish upon realizing that he has stopped the car turns to look towards Sujal to know what made him to stop the car.

She realizes that he is staring something. Kashish follows his stare and her heart skips a beat upon discovering the vendor from whom they had bought paubhaji several times and had enjoyed it while they were together.

"Sujal....",

calls out Kashish, hesitantly, looking towards Sujal.

Sujal keeps his stare intact on the shop, cherishing those days! With his stare intact on the shop, Sujal asks Kashish,

"Dogi mera saath... kuch purani yaadon ko taaza karne mein?"

His words pierce Kashish's heart. She knits her brows, staring him.

'Jo yaadein tumhare liye khushi ke kuch lamhe paney ke zariye hain Sujal; wohi yaadein.... wohi yaadein mere har zakhm ko taza karne ki wajah hai! Kaise... kaise de dun tumhe ye ijjazat tumhe mere zakhmon ko kurdene ka?'

(Kashish's revenge tune begins)

Kashish looks away, frustrated.

Calming her nerves, Kashish replies, cascading her eyes,

"Ahmm... haan... waise bhi... mujhe ab bhookh lag rahi hai."

Those words of hers drag Sujal out of his thoughts; makes his brows to knit in concern for Kashish and he turns to look towards Kashish.

"Bhookh lag rahi hai?",

he asks politely.

Kashish nods in affirmative, keeping her eyes cascaded.

"Chalo!",

and he unties his seat belt and exits the car.

Kashish follows the suit!

*****

"Ek....",

Sujal stops abruptly as he realizes that they are no more the same Sujal and Kashish that they used to be. He cascades his eyes for a brief moment and smiles a little, sadly.

Looking back towards the vendor he changes his words, his excitement of buying paubhaji vanishes suddenly!

"Do (2) plate paubhaji!"

Standing next to Sujal, Kashish notices his each expression, her brows knit up lightly.

Moments when they had shared food from one plate before their marriage, flash in front of Kashish's eyes in a row.

(Ek dantya vidmahe song begins)

'Ye doori sirf inn plates tak hi seemit nahi hai Sujal; main janti hun ke aaj iss choti si doori ne tum par kis tarah se asar kiya hai! Aur main iss asar ko kabhi kam nahi hone dungi Sujal. Kabhi nahi!',

thinks Kashish, staring Sujal out of hatred and her mind drifts towards the moment that they spent here once when Kashish was in love with Sujal!

*Flashback*

"Arey ek plate?",

asks Kashish, sadly surprised, staring towards the plate, as they sit on the bench in front of this shop, while Sujal places the plate in front of her and occupies space on the bench himself.

"Haan to?",

asks Sujal, smiling at her lovingly.

Making a sad face she looks towards Sujal and asks,

"Tum nahi khaoge?"

"Khaunga na!",

replies Sujal, smiling.

Knitting her brows, holding her waist from either sides, Kashish scolds him by asking,

"Yani tum mere samne akele khaoge aur  main tumhe khate hue dekhungi? Jabki bhookh mujhe lagi thi tumhe nahi!"

Sujal laughs at that. Kashish keeps her stern look on him intact.

"Hum saath mein khayenge na Kashish, ek hi plate se.",

smiles Sujal, lovingly.

Blush creeps Kashish's cheeks as she realizes. Her stare on Sujal turns intimate.

Sujal smiles infectiously staring back at her.

(Humming tune of thodasa pyar hua hai that comes before the beginning of the song)

Sujal prepares a bite and feeds Kashish, smiling and staring at her lovingly.

Kashish's heart flutters out of love for Sujal, and she haves it, biting his fingure a little and laughing upon receiving an expression of shock from Sujal.

Sujal fake glares her and ends up laughing too.

*Flashback ends*

Smiling wide as he too remembers the cherishing moment, Sujal looks towards his index finger that Kashish bit that day and he laughs a little, silently.

Sujal carries both the plates and they walk towards an empty table, occupying their seats.

As soon as Sujal places the plates on the table, he jerks his left hand in order to sooth the burning sensation that holding of the plate filled with hot paubhaji caused to him. 

Kashish looks towards him and gets tensed, her rate of heartbeat increases.

Quickly she pulls his hand and rubs it with her hands. She then puts his index finger which to her appears to be redder than the others, which tells her that that particular finger must be hurting him the most, into her mouth, sucking it to cool the sensation of burn.

Sujal almost stops breathing upon witnessing her concern for himself.

"Kaha tha na Sujal garam cheezon ko dhyan se pakda karo. Humesha haath jala lete ho apna!",

she scolds him, sucking it again, tensed and concerned.

Sujal keeps staring her lovingly. Her concern; her reaction tug his heart. He doesn't make any effort to let her know that he is fine. Her gesture of love and concern; which Kashish herself fail to realize, turn Sujal spellbound!

"Bohot dard ho raha hai?",

asks Kashish with such pain in her eyes, as if instead of him it is she who has got hurt, her eyes fixed on his burnt finger.

"Nahi, ab nahi ho raha.",

says Sujal, ever so slowly, staring Kashish throughout, lovingly.

(Thodasa pyar hua hai sad song's starting tune)

Kashish slowly looks towards Sujal.

"Hota bhi to tum kahan mujhe batate ho?",

she says, staring him, keeping her brows knit.

That comes as a surprise for Sujal. His heart clenches hearing that.

They stare each other. All their emotions reflect in their eyes.

Sujal's cheeks warm up hearing that. Does she really care to know how he feels? What is buried in his heart?

"Agar mere dard se tumhare chehre par shikan aye.... to wo dard main chup chap sehna hi pasand karunga Kashish!",

says Sujal, staring her throughout.

Kashish keeps staring him, unable to understand what kind of a being is he!

"Aur wo dard jo meri wajah se tum sehte ho. Unka kya Sujal?",

she asks, staring him with almost teary eyes, tilting her head a little towards her left.

"Wo jo maine tumhe diye?",

adds Kashish, she fails to understand why did she ask him that, but her heart refrains her from taking her words back.

Sujal stares her back, pain in his eyes evident, but the reason of the pain is nothing more than the fact that he is witnessing Kashish all hurt, as she uttered those words.

"Bina dard ke koi bhi pyar pura nahi hota Kashish!",

says Sujal, staring into her eyes, confidently.

"Agar aisa hai to wo dard mere hisse bhi ane chahiye. Tum akele hi kyun humare rishte ka bojh uthaoge?",

asks Kashish, her tone still sad and urgent.

"Kashish se judi hui koi bhi baat Sujal ke liye bojh nahi ho sakti. Kashish wo ehsaas hai Sujal ki zindagi mein jiske hone se Sujal ki bojh bhari zindagi ko raahat mili.",

says Sujal, staring her deep into her eyes.

Kashish shivers hearing that.

"Jitni raatein Sujal ne Kashish se bichad kar; jag kar guzari hain; utni hi raatein Kashish bhi Sujal ke liye apni ankhein namm karke soyi hai!",

says Sujal, confidence never ceases to leave his voice.

Kashish stares him in utter shock!

"Aur ye baat tumhe mujhe batane ki zarurat  nahi hai Kashish! Kyunki agar Sujal kayi raaton ko nahi soya, to main ye kaise maan lun ke Kashish sukoon se so payi hogi?",

says Sujal, smiling infectiously yet confidently at Kashish.

Kashish fails to understand how must she react to his words.

Tum ho such ya... koi,

khwab meri ankhon ke.

Ho wo ashk jo ankhon se,

kabhi na beh sakey?

Ek kadam tumhari taraf,

dil mera le chuka hai.

Chaha tha jo na maine,

na jane kaise hua hai.

Fir bhi jhijhak ye kaisi,

ho...

dil mein kasak ye kaisi,

samjhna to hai baki.

Thodasa pyar hua hai,

thoda hai baki.

She remembers how even with Piyush sleeping by her side, many nights she had cried thinking about Sujal and hers' relationship, beautiful moments that they had spent together.

*****

Sujal prepares a bite from his plate hesitantly, with a hope of feeding it to Kashish. He slowly looks towards Kashish who is busy having her paobhaji, lost in some deep thought.

Sujal realizes that they don't share a relation where he could feed her without any hesitation and immediately he remembers the moment, how they once enjoyed having pakodas during a rainy day.

There was no hesitation between them that day. Kashish trusted Sujal immensely. So much that she was ready to have that green chilly as well from his hand, without any fear of consequences or any hesitation.

Sujal wonders how much has changed between them today!

Kashish, remembering the moment, thinks,

'Ek waqt tha Sujal jab mujhe tum par itna bharosa tha ke agar tum mujhe zehar bhi de dete apne haathon se to main bina sawal kiye; bina tum par shaq kiye usse pi leti. Magar aaj....'

(Shankh tune of 'ek dantaya vidmahe')

Kashish glares Sujal and thinks further,

'Aaj main wohi zehar tumhari zindagi mein bhar dena chahti hun. Itna ke uss zehar se bachne ka koi raasta tumhe dikhayi na de.'

(Ma ga ma ga re ga sa, ma ga ma ga pa dha pa.) x 3

Kashish cascades her eyes but her mind remains occupied with all negative thoughts for Sujal.

In her absent mindedness, Kashish drops her next bite.

"Ahmm.....",

Kashish looks towards the dropped bite a bit apologetically.

Sujal immediately prepares a bite from his plate and forwards his hand to feed Kashish.

Kashish gets surprised by his gesture and hesitantly looks towards him.

Sujal keeps his stare intact on Kashish. His eyes filled with expectation, hoping that she won't refuse.

(Thodasa pyar hua hai sad song's starting tune)

Finding her self stuck in this awkward situation, Kashish submits to his desire of feeding her by his hand.

Keeping her eyes cascaded, Kashish haves it from his hand.

Sujal keeps staring her as she chews it, keeping her eyes cascaded, feeling self conscious under his constant gaze.

Sujal finishes with his plate and gets up saying,

"Main abhi ye fek kar ata hun.",

indicating towards the empty paper plates.

As Sujal walks past Kashish, Kashish succeeds in skipping Sujal's heartbeat by holding his wrist. 

After a beat, Sujal turns to look towards Kashish, curious to know why did she stop him, that too by crossing her own limits - holding him; touching him!

(42:34 par jo tune hai in the mentioned link above, that tune here) 

Sujal stares her, knitting his brows in confusion. Kashish slowly looks up towards him. Pulling him down slowly, holding his wrist, Kashish feeds him with the last bite.

Sujal's heart throbs inside his chest as he accepts the bite, having it from her hand after what feels like eternity. Sujal keeps the whole process slow, not wanting to bring it to an end soon.

Their stare turns all the more intimate with each passing moment.

Sujal soon realizes that he should bring this to an end, hence cautiously he gesture towards the empty used plates, smiling hesitantly.

He waits, staring her, to gauge her reaction to his gesture.

Kashish cascades her eyes and slowly nods her head into affirmative, understanding, forwarding her own plate to him, hesitantly. 

Accepting it he turns to leave.

Kashish looks towards the retreating figure of Sujal, her eyes filled with dilemma.

She feels irritated by her own gestures towards him at the moment.

Kashish turns to look towards the shop, her eyes filled with sadness.

https://youtu.be/8hJDSfP2cRU

(First tune of this link begins as Kashish stares towards the shop and remembers the moments she spent with Sujal earlier and also today)

Reaching back to Kashish, Sujal asks softly, staring her throughout,

"Chalein Kashish?"

Kashish looks towards him. Cascading her eyes after a brief moment, Kashish nods her head in affirmative.

"Kashish agey ek mall hai wahan se Kanan, Charu, Mehak aur Mauli ke liye kuch khareed lenge.",

says Sujal, smiling.

Kashish who had almost forgotten about buying gifts for them because of Sujal's hovering her mind, gets surprised by realizing that he remembered about them. She keeps staring him in awe!

Sujal looks towards her and asks,

"Kya hua?"

Kashish cascades her eyes slowly and shakes her head into negative.

(la la.... tune begins)

Kashish slowly looks again towards him taking that he must have teared his gaze from her; blush creeps her cheeks immediately on realizing that his stare had remained intact. Their eyes meet. None shows courage to end their precious eye contact anytime soon.

*****

Together they enter the mall and indulge into shopping for Kashish's sisters.

Kashish selects a dress for Charu and asks Sujal for his suggestion, staring towards the dress in excitement,

"Sujal ye Charu ke liye kaisa rahega?"

Sujal, who was randomly checking few dresses, standing at a distance from Kashish, walks to Kashish and stands behind her, towards her left side, close to Kashish.

"Ahmm... Nahi Kashish ye itna acha nahi lag raha.",

he suggests.

"Ruko main kuch dekhta hun.",

says Sujal, and begins selecting for a dress that would suit Charu.

Kashish looks towards Sujal, her eyes filled with naughtiness and asks him teasingly,

"Tumhe ladkiyon ke liye shopping karni aati hai?"

Sujal arches a brow on being teased by Kashish. Turning to look towards her, he replies,

"Kyun shadi se pehle jo main tumhare liye kapde khareed kar lata tha aur tumse demand karta tha ke office mein har roz ek ek karke pehn kar ana unn kapdo ko bhool gayi tum?"

Kashish laughs hearing that, remembering.

Sujal doesn't laugh back, as if still hurt by her distrust on him that he can shop for ladies too!

(Sujal-Kashish's happy tune begins)

"Suchchi Sujal tumhari choice itni achi hoti thi ke samjh hi nahi ata tha ke pehle konsa pehnu fir konsa pehnu.",

says Kashish, shaking her head, smiling throughout, fondly remembering those moments.

"Kya matlab choice achi hoti thi? Meri choice achi hai Kashish!",

says Sujal, confidently, his tone still the same jolly one as was earlier.

"Mujhe kya pata. Shadi ke baad tum mere liye gifts latey hi kahan ho?",

Kashish rolls her eyes.

"Ab to mujhe lag raha hai ke tumse firse waise gifts paney ke liye mujhe firse tumhare office mein kaam karna shuru karna parhega tumhari personal assisstant bann kar.",

laughs Kashish.

Sujal's heart flutters hearing that. He stares Kashish intimately and in his that deep voice that succeeds in churning Kashish's insides, he says,

"Ab tum meri office mein personal assistant na sahi; magar meri zindagi ki boss bann chuki ho Kashish!"

Kashish stares him deep into his eyes.

"Tum agar mujhe ijjazat do to tumhari zindagi ke har din ko tohfon se bhar dunga!"

Kashish shivers by witnessing the sincerity in Sujal's eyes as he utters those words.

They stare each other. For those brief moments, they turn back into unmarried lovers - Sujal Garewal and Kashish Sinha!

Suddenly they realize that they are no more unmarried lovers who would indulge in such cute and innocent chat. They get self conscious and quickly cascade their eyes.

Looking towards Kashish sheepishly, Sujal teases her by reminding,

"Ahmm.... waise.... ab tumhe gift dena easy bhi hoga at least tum Papa aur apne behno ke samne kaise le jaogi gift, pehnogi kaise, ye sub to nahi sochogi."

Kashish couldn't help herself from smiling and blushing, cascading her eyes as she remembers how she would go nervous about carrying the gift to her home, hiding it from her family especially her sisters who were habitual of checking her wardrobe for dresses that they would wear to their college at times.

"Okay so hum ye Charu ke liye lenge; ye.... ye wali Mauli ke liye; ye Kanan ka ho gaya aur ye tumhari devrani Mehak ke liye.",

smiles Sujal, looking towards Kashish.

Kashish laughs, remembering Mehak fondly, as she hears Sujal saying 'tumhari devrani Mehak ke liye'.

Sujal laughs too, looking towards Kashish.

"Arey main kuch apne bhai Varun ke liye bhi le lun.",

says Sujal, remembering.

"Aur Hrishi aur Aman?",

asks Kashish.

"Wo log to har dusre din mujhse paise lekar kuch na kuch khareedte rehte hain.",

smiles Sujal, shaking his head.

"Varun aisa nahi hai.",

smiles Sujal, thinking about Varun fondly.

"Haan Varun bilkul Piyush ki tarah hai....",

says Kashish, thinking about Varun and Piyush fondly, smiling.

Sujal's smile diminishes a little upon hearing Piyush's name.

Kashish's smile vanishes too as she realizes that she shouldn't have said that.

She stares Sujal in utter shock and apologetically.

"Sujal....",

she begins to explain but gets intervened by Sujal, smiling, Sujal says,

"Ahmm... main dekhta hun kuch.",

and leaves.

(Kashish's revenge tune begins)

Smiling sarcastically, Kashish thinks,

'Tumhe main Varun aur Aman ke zindagi mein Piyush ki jagah kabhi nahi lene dungi Sujal. Kabhi nahi!'

After completing the shopping they head towards home.

*****

(The tune that they use when Kashish is with her sisters and father)

While Sujal drives towards home, Kashish picks a shopping bag from the rear seat and checks the gifts. In excitement she says,

"Kitne khush ho jayenge sub jab main unhe ye gifts dungi."

Sujal smiles wide, realizing that she is correct.

She turns again to check another bag when Sujal applies the break, hard enough for Kashish to get imbalanced. She immediately rests her hand on his thigh to save herself from a fall.

The sudden touch on his thigh, skips Sujal's as well as Kashish's heartbeat, they immediately look towards each other in utter shock. Sujal quickly tears his gaze and concentrates on his driving, giving her space to steady herself and get out of this awkward situation. Kashish after getting out of her initial state of shock, quickly removes her hand. But it feels as if destiny doesn't want her to do that, hence the car feels yet another jerk that again leads to Kashish's resting her hand on his thigh, unintentionally. Sujal this time doesn't look towards her saving her and himself from yet another awkward eye contact. His breath hitches and his hold on steering wheel gets tightened in order to control his emotions. Kashish slowly, cascades her eyes, after staring him in utter shock for a brief moment. She gradually tries to calm down her increased rate of heartbeat.

"Ahmm... I.... I am sorry.... mujhe dekh kar break lagani chahiye thi.",

apologizes Sujal, focusing on his drive.

He feels apologetical towards Kashish when she removes her hand from upon his thigh. He realizes that had he not applied the break so harshly, she wouldn't have gotten bound to touch him.

Kashish adjusts her strand of hair behind her ear, hesitantly, keeping her eyes cascaded and says,

"Ahmm... it's... it's okay!"

They both turn quiet, feeling awkward.

"Ahmm.... tum Papa se milne abhi chalogi Kashish?",

asks Sujal.

Tired, relaxing in her seat, resting her head against the seat, Kashish turns to look towards Sujal and in her tired voice says,

"Nahi Sujal kal chalein please, aaj bohot thak gayi hun."

Smiling, Sujal says,

"Maine to suna tha ke ladkiyan mayike jane ke liye kabhi nahi thakti."

Kashish smiles wide, blushes and says, staring Sujal,

"Haan magar jisse apne sasural mein bhi apne mayike ke jaisa pyar miley, wo ladkiyan mayike jate waqt zarur do (2) baar soch sakti hain."

That warms Sujal's heart and he looks towards Kashish for a brief moment, smiling. Kashish smiles back.

"Ahmm.... waise... kya tumhe dark green colour pasand hai?",

asks Kashish, out of blue, ignoring to look towards Sujal while she asks that.

That comes as a surprise for Sujal. He turns to look towards her for a brief moment.

"Kya?",

he asks, as if he hadn't heard her.

"Ahmm... pehle bhi jab maine tumse tumhare favourite colour ka pucha tha, to tumne kaha tha ke tumhara as such koi favourite colour nahi.",

says Kashish hesitantly.

Sujal immediately understands that she is talking about one of their conversations that they had when they were in relationship, prior to her marriage with Piyush. Blush creeps Sujal's cheeks, and he smiles shyly, upon realizing that she remembers even such a minute detail about him and the conversation they had too.

(Humming tune that comes before the beginning of thodasa pyar hua hai song)

"Isliye.... isliye main samjh nahi pa rahi thi tumhe konsa colour pasand ayega. So maine...",

she hesitantly looks towards Sujal and says,

"Maine dark green colour ki shirt li hai tumhare liye."

(Thodasa pyar hua hai guitar tune begins)

Sujal blushes, smiles, widening his eyes, as that comes as a surprise for him.

"Ahmm.... Kashish.... thanks par.... par iski zarurat nahi thi.",

says Sujal, smiling hesitantly, his eyes on the road.

Cascading her eyes, her face turned in front, Kashish asks hesitantly,

"Ahmm.... agar aaj.... agar aaj meri jagah... Mumma tumhe ye detin, to kya tum unhe bhi yahi kehte?"

Sujal turns to look towards Kashish in utter shock. Quickly he turns again to focus on his driving, but in his mind revolves her words.

Kashish understands that she is as dear to him as his mother is to him.

Sujal smiles and blushes further having nothing to say to that!

Kashish smiles staring him.

*****

They reach home. As Sujal parks the car, his phone rings. Staring at the screen, Sujal knits his brows. Kashish looks towards him and wonders who is it that caused him to knit his brows. She looks towards the screen and reads Archie's name. Her heart skips a beat reading it. She cascades her eyes, feeling uncomfortable. She doesn't understand why she expects Sujal to disconnect the call, but when he accepts the call, Kashish knits her brows, looking towards him in disappointment.

"Hello.",

greets Sujal, seriously.

"Hello Sujal kaise ho?",

asks Archie, smiling.

"Theek hun Archie. Tum kaisi ho?",

Sujal keeps it quick and formal.

Kashish takes a deep breath, enduring the conversation.

"Tumhare paas ab mere liye waqt kahan hai, to main aur ho bhi kaisi sakti hun tumhari absence mein?",

taunts Archie.

Sujal takes a silent deep breath, to endure her words.

"Hum dost hain Archie.",

says Sujal, almost like reminding her of her limits.

Kashish turns to look towards Sujal, his words drag all of her attention.

"Tumhe agar kuch help chahiye so I am always there for you.",

says Sujal.

Kashish looks away, fidgeting with her mangalsutra.

Smiling, Archie says,

"Filhal bus itni help kar do ke kal ek party throw kar rahi hun main just ek small get together. Tumhe aur Kashish ko invite karne ke liye call kiya tha."

"Party?",

repeats Sujal.

Kashish looks towards him, knitting her brows lightly, realizing the reason of her calling him.

Kashish expects him to make some excuse as she is no mood to attend Archie's party. But Sujal shocks her by saying,

"Theek hai Archie main aur Kashish zarur ayenge."

Kashish's rate of heartbeat increases, disappointed and frustrated on hearing Sujal.

She turns to unlock the door out of anger.

Realizing her mood and her step of leaving the car, Sujal holds her by her wrist whilst continuing his conversation with Archie, not turning to look towards her.

That comes as yet another surprise for Kashish, she immediately turns to look towards his hand holding her wrist; her brows knit tighter out of frustration. She then looks towards Sujal. Sujal initially doesn't look towards her, even though he realizes that her eyes are on him, since the moment she looks towards him.

Kashish tries to free her hand out of his hold, but Sujal tightens his hold on her hand, still not turning to look towards her. Defeated, Kashish sits back properly in her seat, avoiding to look towards him out of anger. Sujal slowly turns to look towards Kashish, who has kept her face turned away from him.

"Okay Archie main tumse baad mein baat karta hun.",

says Sujal, after having completed his conversation with her and turns to look towards Kashish after ending the call.

Leaving her wrist, staring her throughout, Sujal asks Kashish,

"Kya hua Kashish?"

Kashish ignores looking towards him, her brows still knit together, she replies in a haste,

"Mera sir dukh raha hai."

Sujal laughs silently, sarcastically, cascading his eyes.

Slowly, looking towards her, Sujal asks her politely,

"Aur kya yahi baat tum meri ankhon mein dekh kar bol sakti ho?"

That skips Kashish's heartbeat and her cheeks turn crimson red out of awkwardness and hesitation.

She turns to look towards him. They stare each other.

Sujal asks her softly,

"Kya meri koi baat buri lagi Kashish?"

He stares her expectantly, his heart throbbing inside his chest.

Kashish cascades her eyes slowly, after staring him for sometime.

"Mumma pareshan ho rahi hongi.",

says Kashish, trying to end the conversation.

Sujal realizes that she avoiding his question. He cascades his eyes, smiling sarcastically.

Realizing that she won't tell him the truth, Sujal let go off the topic, keeping his eyes cascaded, facing in front of him, holding the steering wheel.

Kashish exits the car and walks towards their home.

Sitting inside the car, Sujal stares the retreating figure of Kashish and wonders what has he done to get such a reaction from Kashish.

*****

Kashish, after giving all of her family members the respective presents that she had bought for them heads towards her room. Upon opening the door of her room she discovers Sujal, trying the shirt that she had bought for him. Smile of shyness and excitement stretches on Kashish's lips which she quickly hides. Cascading her eyes, she enters the room and shuts the door behind her.

Sujal upon realizing her presence in the room, turns to look towards her, the buttons of his shirt still undone.

Kashish avoids looking towards him and heads towards the cupboard to put the box of saree that he had chosen for her into it along with the gifts that they have bought for her sisters.

Kashish turns to look towards Sujal, who by now has got busy in buttoning up his shirt. She stares him gauging his attire and how he is looking in it. A smile of satisfaction and approval comes on her face.

Walking to him, Kashish slowly shoves his hands aside and helps him in buttoning the shirt. Her gesture comes as a surprise for Sujal. He stares her with twinkling eyes; his heart throbbing inside his chest.

Staring her lovingly, Sujal asks her cautiously,

"Gussa ho?"

Kashish chooses to ignore his question and focuses on buttoning his shirt.

Sujal gauges her mood and asks again, knitting his brows in frustration,

"Jab tak tum mujhe bataogi nahi to mujhe kaise pata chalega Kashish ke maine kya galti ki hai?"

Suddenly his heart skips a beat and he asks hesitantly, looking towards her,

"Kya... kya maine humare beech ki hadein paar ki kisi tarah?",

he holds his breath while waiting for her reply, suddenly feeling guilty, without even knowing whether this is the real reason of her disappointment or not!

Kashish looks towards him, stares him whilst working on his final button, but doesn't reply to him.

Sujal stares her in confusion even after Kashish's buttoning up his buttons.

Kashish looks towards him when he doesn't stop staring her.

Sujal, giving her a last look turns to look into the mirror. The smile on his face relaxes Kashish as she realizes that he approves of the shirt.

"Main Mumma ko dikha kar aata hun.",

says Sujal, looking towards Kashish. 

Kashish nods keeping her eyes cascaded.

Sujal keeps staring her, knitting his brows. Kashish looks towards him. Staring her for a moment Sujal leaves the room.

Turning her face to look towards the retreating figure of Sujal, Kashish holds the ring that she wears putting in the chain that adorns her neck, a token of memory of her dear husband Piyush.

She knits her brows in dilemma as she thinks,

'Main.... main Sujal ke liye.... kyun aisa mehsus kar rahi hun...?'

She looks away out of frustration.

'Kyun uska Archie ko haan kehna....',

she places her finger tips on her forehead, closing her eyes, knitting her brows tighter, she thinks further,

'...mujhse bardash nahi ho raha?'

Kashish shoves both of her hands into her hair out of frustration, shutting her eyes for a brief moment.

'Ye.. ye saza... ye saza uske liye nahi hai. Ye saza mere liye hai.',

thinks Kashish, looking away in frustration.

(Tune that they use when Kashish thinks about Piyush)

'Kaise... kaise main Piyush ke alawa kisi aur ke barey mein aise....',

she trails off, frustrated.

She looks heavenwards, apologizing to Piyush.

(Itne sarey tunes hai iss gane ke, ke kabhi kabhi samjh hi nahi aata konse situation mein konsa dalun. 😭😭😭 And I love all the versions uff... 😭😭😭)

-THE END-

I don't want to drag this story. Just wanted to focus on their shopping together. Hence I am ending it here. 

Now I am about to resume 'Rooh' hopefully. 

(23.9.2020)