"Achchha chalo selfies lete hain. You guys okay with it?" Karan asked to bring some energy and excitement.

They both nodded. Karan took out his mobile and they clicked so many selfies with different poses. Donal too joined them in between and they had fun together while waiting for the re-announcement.

Soon Akanksha came to them and informed them that the award would be announced in 10minutes and the cheerful mood was again turned to nervousness for both of them. They both started mentally preparing themselves for it, probably what to say on stage or how to react over the announcement. They both had seen the cameras panned to them in the meantime and knew that it would be fixed on them to record their reactions after the announcement. What should they do? Should they hug each other as the other jodi winners do? Should they hold hands and walk together? Or should they keep it subtle like all the celebrities generally do when cameras are panned to them. So many thoughts had crowded in both their minds.

"Randeep, mera mobile rakhoge tumhare pocket mein?" Ashi's voice got Randeep back from his thoughts. He gladly took her mobile and put it in his other pocket. So many gestures from Ashi were happening after so long for him.

Soon Aditya Narayan used a tagline for 'Jeevansathi dot com' and they knew that now is the time. For the guests, Gautam Rode, Debattama Saha and one more lady were called and they announced their names. 'Ashi Singh and Randeep Rai'.

As soon as their names were taken, Karan and Helly who were sitting next to Randeep and Ashi, cheered for them. Karan patted Randeep's back while Helly clapped in excitement. The winner jodi, Ashi and Randeep just smiled while looking at each other, not at the same time, and left for the stage. How many things they had thought. But all they could do was smile in exhilaration and walk. That was what sheer happiness had done to them.

As soon as they started walking, Randeep's hand intuitively went to hold Ashi's one. But he soon realised that it would be difficult for her to walk with that gown like before, so he stepped ahead. The excitement was clearly visible on their faces as they were almost running to the stage.

Randeep was supposed to get the award from Gautam while Ashi from Dabattama. The guests were standing in such a way that Randeep had to cross all of them and go to the left to receive the award from Gautam and Ashi moved back to Dabattama after shaking hands with all. The 'Best Jodi' award winners were actually standing miles apart... okay, three people apart from each other on the stage. It had always happened with them. They never planned such things but as Randeep had mentioned in his interview on the last day of the shoot, such weird things keep happening between them.

Their faces were glowing in contentment, with the smiles wide. The mic went to Randeep first. He thanked his fans and the whole team of 'Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai' while Ashi was admiring him with a smile. When it was Ashi's turn, she thanked her mother for the support, Shashi-Sumeet Productions for giving them the show and having faith in them and all the fans for voting, unaware of the fact that there wasn't any voting for 'Best Jodi' and that it was their appreciation from the ITA family itself. They were elated while expressing the gratitude.

When they got down slowly, Randeep was keeping a check on Ashi that she wouldn't get stumbled again on the stairs, and still refraining himself from holding her. As they reached their seats, they were again congratulated by the people available there and they both sat while constantly staring at the trophy in their hand.

It was late night when their award was re-announced. Most of the people including the Indore audience and the invitees had already started leaving. It was one of the last segments of awards and soon the function was declared to be over. Within the next few minutes, Ashi's manager Forum came to her and informed her about the photo session for winners and also that both Ashi and Randeep would need to give some promotional bytes together to the media, and she left.

Ashi was about to move forward but Randeep held her arm and made her turn back, "Ashi, yahan hame kafi waqt lag sakta hai. If you don't mind, tum mere sath hi chalo hotel. Waise bhi maine driver ko bolke rakha hai rukne ko", he asked. Maybe he wanted to talk to her.

Ashi's eyes widened with surprise, but it looked like she was happy about it. Without making any delay, she said 'okay' with a wide grin on her face and almost rushed to Karan, who was talking to Helly and Krystal.

Karan thought she would ask him to leave, so he quickly asked Helly and Krystal for pictures with him and Ashi.

When it was done, Karan excused himself from there but Ashi stopped him and spoke in excitement, "Karan, hame na kuchh bytes dene hai media ko aur photos bhi hai. Toh shayad time ho jayega. Toh main Randeep ke sath hi chali jaungi hotel, tum log nikal jana tumhare hisaab se. Lekin hotel pohochte hi mujhe call karna kyunki tumhe hamare bahut saare photos click karne hain. Thik hai?" She didn't give him a chance to even utter a word till she finished it.

Karan was just smiling at her happiness. "Thik hain, main call karta hoon. Aur agar tum log pehle pohoch jaate ho toh tum call kar dena." He said before waving his hands to her and then he saw her running towards Randeep again.

Ashi and Randeep were guided to the spot where photographers and reporters from the media were present. They posed for the official photos which were going to be used by SET network, being the telecasting channel. They also shot for some promotional bytes for the same.

When Forum informed Ashi that everything was done, they both headed towards the parking area, which was now a lot more crowded than before. They got surrounded by many people who identified them and guards had to invade into them to control the crowd. Randeep was holding Ashi's hand now and protecting her from behind. Somehow they managed to reach towards his car and he signaled the driver immediately. They both entered the car and he muttered a curse, "Shit! Bad idea."

Ashi somehow understood what he wanted to say but she didn't say anything. While moving out from the gate, their car was again caught in the mass of the fans who were asking for photos. But it wasn't possible, as such a huge crowd had gathered overall due to the conclusion of the function and everyone was trying to go ahead. They closed the glasses of windows, still not wanting to disappoint any fan, but they had to do it for their safety.

They both were just looking at the traffic and the rush for the event. There were many security personnel too as a result of Section 144 that had been imposed for those two days, all over India.

As soon as they went past the gate and touched to the road, Ashi put her mobile on silent and turned herself to Randeep, though she was uncomfortable with her gown accommodated in a small space of the car.

"Randeep, thanks. Iss award ka partner banne ke liye. You've always been a great support." She was overwhelmed.

He also turned completely towards her, resting one of his knees on the seat, not bothering about his trousers which were getting smeared with dirt on his shoes. "C'mon yaar Ashi. Ab hum kya 'vote of thanks' dene wale hain ek-dusre ko. Kehna hi hai toh congratulations kaho." He said with his usual funny tone.

"Nahi, mujhe aur bhi kuch kehna hai", she replied.

"Haan, bolo na." He was eager to hear anything coming from her.

"Randeep, sorry. Woh uss raat terrace pe maine jo bhi kahan uss sab ke liye." She lowered her eyes.

"Ashi, tumhe kisi baat ke liye sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hain. Aur tum abhibhi uss raat ke baare me soch rahi ho?", he was surprised to hear this as he thought it would be something different.

"Nahi, mujhe bolne do", she interrupted. "Iss beete samay mein, maine bahut socha uss raat maine jo kuchh kaha uske baare mein, mere behavior ke baare mein. Aisa lag raha tha jaise main bahut childish behave kar rahi thi. Tab bhi aur jabse maine tumse baat karna band kar diya tha tab bhi. Jiski shayad koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi. Hum dono mein aisi koi bahut badi misunderstanding nahi hui thi, naa koi bahut badi ladaai. Woh shayad bahut normal si cheez thi jo do colleagues ke beech mein ho sakti hai. Maine shayad kuchh jyada hi ummeedein rakhi hui thi tumse. Lekin yeh bhool gayi thi ki dosti jabardasti se toh nahi ki jaa sakti na."

"Ashi tum kyun aisa keh rahi ho?", her words pinched him again.

Ashi thought he had misinterpreted her words, she said in a hurry, "Nahi, nahi. Randeep, mein yeh kisi tarah ke sarcasm se nahi keh rahi hun. Main wahi keh rahi hun jo maine inn dinon mein feel kiya. Main galat thi, kyunki maine sabse hi chhote-chhote expectations rakhe hue the. Tum se, Ayesha se. Show ke dauraan hum itna time sath me rehte the toh kuchh alag nahi lagta tha. Lekin aaj jab show khatm hoke dhaai mahine ho chuke hain, toh meri usse bhi baatein kam ho gayi hain. Aisa nahi ki hum mile nahi beech me, lekin hum sab apni life me busy ho jaate hai aur dosto se apne aap baatein kam ho jati hai. Aur shayad inhi sab baaton se main bhi dheere-dheere seekh rahi hun."

Randeep looked in her eyes carefully. What was in those eyes? Whom was she talking about? Was it about him? or Ayesha? But then he thought that probably she just needs to share her feelings.

He softly touched her hand, as she was lost somewhere. "Ashi, all okay?", he asked.

"Haan haan, sab thik hai. Bass kuchh cheeze thodi achchhe se samajhne lagi hun ab", she brought a smile on her face. "Aur isliye shayad mujhe bhi tumhare dosti ke funde samajh mein aa rahe hai. Randeep, please uss raat meri kahi kisi baat ko seriously mat lena. Mujhe ek immature ladki samajhke woh baat bhool jao please", she repeated her words from that night.

What was she saying? 

Randeep thought to himself. She was being sorry about the good changes her words brought in him after that night. He had started understanding his co-artists's perspective, be it anyone. He had started taking the rumour and link-up things lightly, though it hadn't happened in this time span. He had understood how harmless it is to be active on social media sometimes for fans, which had resulted in his uncountable tiktok videos with Zain and Abhilash one night. And here, she was saying that she had been immature while stating it.

The car was moving in slow pace due to the traffic, giving them ample time to share whatever they were feeling.

Randeep grabbed her one hand, this time with hope that she won't free it, "Ashi, tumhare jaisi itni suljhi hui aur samajhdaar ladki immature kaise ho sakti hain? Pata hain, mai hamesha apne dosto ko aur bhai ko bolta hun, ki Ashi apne age ke hisaab se kuchh jyada hi matured hai, jo hamesha sab ke baare mein sochti hai. Aur Ashi, ummeedein toh maine bhi tumse rakhi hui thi, inn sab mahinon mein. Main bhi chahta tha ki tum mujhse waise hi baat karo jaise pehle kiya karti thi. Main bhi chah raha tha ki sab kuchh pehle jaisa ho jaye. Main woh pehle wali Ashi dekhna chahta tha jo mere sath bhi hasi-mazaak kiya karti thi. Lekin, main sirf intezaar karta raha. Shayad mere hi kuchh usoolon ne mujhe baandh ke rakha tha."

He looked down, her hand still in his and both of their trophies secured on the seats. He took her other hand too in his and interlinked their fingers, "Ashi, logon se ummeedein rakhna koi galat baat nahi hai. It's a human tendency. And it shows that you're alive, you are a social person. Isse pata chalta hai ki hame logon ki zaroorat rahti hai zindagi mein, jo bahut achchhi baat hain. Hum sab mein kuchh khamiyaan hoti hai Ashi, jinko bass woh kuchh log puri karte hain jinse hum jud jaate hain. Toh dosto se ummeed rakhne mein koi galat baat nahi hai, aur iss baat ka guilt toh tum bilkul bhi mat rakhna apne mann mein."

His words soothed her. A genuine smile crept on her face. She said, "baat toh sach hai tumhari. Hum sab mein kuchh na kuchh khamiyaan rahti hain. Aur... mujhme bhi hain... ki mujhe logon ko manana nahi aata. Unse jude rehna nahi aata. Agar koi ruthh jata hai mujhse toh main bhi zidd pe ad jaati hun."

She took a pause, recollecting some incident probably, "kitni ajeeb baat hai na Randeep. Tum logon se jaldi jud nahi paate, aur main unse judne ke baad unhe apne sath sambhal nahi paati. Main tumhe blame kar rahi thi Randeep lekin maine bhi koi khaas efforts nahi liye tumse baatein karne ke liye. Tum baat nahi karte the toh maine bhi saamne se koi koshish nahi ki. Jo shayad agar main karti... tumhare sar pe baith jaati agar tum baat nahi karte toh... toh aaj hum bhi achchhe dost hote."

His grip on her hands loosened. A sense of losing someone occupied his mind and he knew that it was a permanent damage. She still is not keeping any hopes of friendship between them. Even after giving her a long lecture on friendship and its bond, he had lost her even as a friend.

"Ashi, toh kya hum friends bhi nahi hai?" He said, tightening the grip again.

"Uhh... Maine kab kaha aisa", her voice changed. "Of course, hum friends hain. Lekin hum aur bhi achchhe friends bann sakte the, agar hum dono koshish karte toh. Bass... kabhi kabhi sochti hun... Jo close bond hum mein saath rehkar nahi bann saka, kya hum door rahkar use aur achchha bana paayenge?" Ashi threw a strange question.

She didn't know what she was doing was right or wrong. She couldn't fathom how the conversation came this way. Also, she was so confused about her feelings... nor did she know what Randeep feels for her. All she wanted was, not to hurt him with her words, with her behavior. She wanted to sort things after that night, which she had been thinking for so long, but now wasn't sure if they were actually getting sorted or messed up.

Few moments passed... No-one said anything... Probably they both were lost in the big time span of two and half years, which they had spent with each other. They had known traits of their lead, they knew some weaknesses too. They knew what could disturb the other or what things could cheer him/her up. Their relation had seen ups and downs in itself. They had kept expectations from each other, while they were upset at one another at times too. But having all those things in a relation was a good sign, be it any relation then. It implies that the person involved in that relationship holds a certain kind of importance in your life, that the person means to you. When your relationship is a smooth walk, it signifies the lack of potential in it... where a negligible importance is given to the other person. Well, one can say that such relations are always just for convenience. Here, it had potential, but something or other always defied it. Probably, they both themselves were responsible for the jumbled emotional phase they were in.

He couldn't see in her eyes and said while lowering his gaze, "Sahi keh rahi ho tum. Hum dono hi shayad kam pad gaye kahin na kahin."

A loud car honk broke the silence that had crept between them.

"Aaaaaa... jyada serious ho gaya. Sorry." Her voice turned chirpy and her stance changed, it appeared more like to hide her state, which was same as his. "Randeep, ek nayi shuruwaat karte hain. Phir se... Achchha promise karo, jitna bhi possible hoga hum ek-dusre ke touch mein rehne ki koshish karenge. Koi naraazgi nahi rakhenge. Jab bhi milenge, achchhese aur haske baatein karenge. Aur hum pehle jaisi hi rahenge, bina yeh yaad rakhe ki inn 9-10 mahinon mein kuchh hua bhi tha. Agar zaroorat padti hain toh ek-dusre ke kaam aayenge. Aur.... ek-dusre ke well-wisher to hum bann hi sakte hain... Tumhari ex-costar hone ke naate itna to maang hi sakti hun na?" She looked at him with hopeful eyes.

They could've just kept staring at each other, if a sudden car brake had not made them aware that they had reached the hotel premise. They both got straightened as they were sitting in awkward positions. 

Randeep didn't have any words. He cleared his throat and leaned forward, "Bhaiyya, gaane chala do na." He told the driver. He knew they had entered the premise, but there was a long queue of cars, moving slowly ahead of them and they still needed to kill that much of time.

The driver switched on the radio and the song that played, pierced through them, even worsening the situation.

The melodious tune was playing and they could hear and process each word of the lyrics very clearly.

"Phir le aaya dil majboor,

kya keeje...

Raas na aaya rehna door,

kya keeje...

Dil keh raha... use maqammal kar bhi aao,

Wo jo adhoori si baat baaki hai...

Wo jo adhoori si yaad baaki hai...."

They just shared a glance with each other, and again looked away. It looked quite filmy. They knew there was always a perfect song for every situation Samaina were in, but destiny could find one for them too. But of course! This wasn't any film or their show... This was real... this was Life!!

Randeep took himself to a flashback of past nine months. He recollected how he was debating over his ego while making a move towards Ashi. And he decided to overcome his timidity. He needed to give an answer to her.

The driver lowered the volume as the car finally stopped in front of the big glass doors of the Indore Marriott Hotel, and Ashi stepped out of the car instantly.

Randeep thought she would leave, so he too rushed out of the car from the same side after thanking the driver and the car left. Ashi was still standing there, but Randeep was impatient. She just took a few steps ahead and he caught her arm out of fear... of losing her...

This made her turn and lose some balance due to the heels. But his strong grip was enough to hold her steady.

"Promise", he said. "Tumne pehli baar mujhse kuchh maanga hain. Main mana kaise kar sakta hoon." The smile on his face did not reach his eyes.

Ashi didn't know if she wanted to hear something else from him. But even his assurance was enough for her. She smiled and took a small step to close the gap between them with a gentle hug.

It took him a few seconds to succumb into the feeling of this sudden hug and then he hugged her back. He embraced her softly, trying not to mess her hairstyle this time. How much he had missed this warmth of her! He wished to break all the walls he had built around him to protect himself in his work environment. He wished to smash all the rules he had set for himself while starting the work in this industry. He just wanted to live in that moment forever. As whatever he was experiencing, was so peaceful... so serene...

On the other side of the hug, Ashi closed her eyes, resting her chin on his shoulder and trying to hold him a little tight. She blamed her high heels for not allowing her to rest her head on his heart and listen to his heartbeats, which she had experienced for so many times. All the happy moments that she had shared with him crowded in her mind. She just didn't want this person to go from her life because of her stupidity. She knew this might be their last hug as there was hardly any possibility of them meeting again. Well, even if they would meet, there isn't going to be any hug. Maybe she had started choking, and she swallowed her unsaid feelings, trying to get herself back to normal.

They both were going through different emotions while sharing the warm hug, except one feeling which they had in common... helplessness. But none of them could decipher why they were feeling so. They couldn't term it as anything. 

What was it after all? What do you call it when you just want to freeze the moment with a particular person?

Well, it is rightly said that sometimes it takes years to figure out your feelings for a person, as most of the time, the last thing you do in this utter chaos of the world, is to listen to your heart. So much importance is given to so many other things these days, that probably you don't leave any time for love, friendship and compassion. The 90s time, the show, taught them the value of love and friendship, but still they couldn't imbibe it completely in themselves. And though, they were the ones who portrayed it so beautifully on-screen, it couldn't be forgotten that they were still people of this millennial. Suddenly they realized how easy it would have been to find out what they want, what they are feeling, had they been actually from the 90s. Their thoughts were becoming coherent gradually as their hold on each other was becoming tighter. They didn't know when they were going to meet again. All they were relied on, was hope, 'उम्मीद', to see each other soon.

They released each other, realizing the place they were at and looked at each other, maybe searching for something in the eyes of one another. But both managed to hide it well, and pretended a fake smile on the face as if everything was just normal. Just a couple of hours back, they were exercising an unknown right on each other, and now it had taken a U-turn and become formal.

Still in the daze of the hug, Randeep said, "Ashi, itne jaldi mat jao please."

She frowned on his statement, not getting the direction of it.

He immediately corrected, "I mean 'After party' mein bahut time hai."

"Haan main nahi jaa rahi kahin. Aur tumhe bhi nahi jaane dungi. Abhi toh hame bahut saare photos khichwane hai." She said with a smile.

She called Karan and informed him that they had reached. He too had reached some time before, so Ashi asked him to come down to the lobby.

They waited for Karan in the lobby and he joined them within 10 minutes. They clicked so many photos there in different angles, posing with the trophy. Some were taken from Ashi's mobile and some from Randeep's. Randeep asked Karan to take his solo picture with the trophy, being a little hesitant, but Karan was doing a perfect photographer's job. Karan took some selfies too from his mobile as he wanted to post for them on social media platforms.

As they were satisfied with the photo session, Ashi told Karan that he would need to click her individual photos in her room. Soon both Ashi and Randeep parted their ways in the hotel lobby, waving a 'goodbye' to each other with a smile and both moved for their respective rooms. Ashi's photo session continued in her room with Karan 'the photographer'.

After that, they both got dressed up for the 'after party' which was organised by the ITA family for all the invitees and attendees of the function. They both danced with their respective friends, partied hard and had so much fun. They enjoyed every bit of the night, while silently wishing for each other's happiness and success and keeping the promise to remain each other's well-wisher forever.

So many things were left unspoken again. So many feelings were suppressed hard. Again. By both of them.

But this was how they both were- Complicated!!! confused!!!

And this is how life is- Unpredictable!

Few days later in Mumbai, there was again a Birthday party at Saxena house, this time it was the boss lady Ambica's. There were again those three boys who had come earlier for the preparation. There was again this boy, Randeep, who was chilling on the couch this time and busy with his phone. There again came voices of three girls from the door... while one girl out of them, Ashi, was searching for someone. Her gaze went to the guy on the couch and their eyes met. The guy stood up and they exchanged a smile. Yes... They had met again... They didn't know if it was their will power to see each other or just a coincidence of a party invitation.... But they just thanked destiny, to make this 'weird thing' happen once again...

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