Italics is Chandini's past !!

***

"Don't Mithu, stop this talk. Let him take his time. Aju knows what he is doing, so does Adi. Don't force them to get married." Pranav said in a straight tone taking up his BIL's side.

"But Pranav, I am damn sure Chandini will be suitable for my bachu. Why don't we set up a meet/date for them? Let them decide whatever they want. I am okay even if they don't like each other." Anu said pouting her mouth

"Mithu, your cute pouty face will not work on this matter. You just met her for few hours, we can't decide someone for what they are in a single day. It's already late, go to sleep."

Anu understood this is not going to work anymore and slept already waving dreams on Arjun-Chandini marriage.

***

Chandini

I was basking in sunlight, sitting by the swing in the lawn. After losing my sleep, I decided to while away sometime in the garden. Sudden hindrance in the warmth made me open my eyes to look at Arjun standing there with a smile.

Is he my dream or he is here for real? It is not even 8 in the morning, he can't be here .I pinched myself to clarify whether Arjun is here or he is a flicker of my imagination.

"Ouch" an involuntary shriek left my mouth.

He let out a chuckle, pulling myself from his handsomeness was big thing, yet I concentrated on what he was saying.

"Morning Chandini. Care to invite me inside?" Still not coming out of his thoughts, I became conscious on what I was in. My baggy tee and Pj's, out of all days I get dressed up do you need to see me in this Arjun? I whined to myself

"Sorry on my manners, please come in." I lead the path inside and informed my maid to get two coffee. I excused myself for few minutes, took the shortest bath of my life, and appeared again in living room after getting ready. When I was back he was already drinking his coffee.

"I just thought I could give you a surprise by delivering your car myself." He smiled.

"Oh Thanks Arjun. Please let me know the cost taken for the repair, I can pay." I answered him reaching out for my wallet

"Hmm, how about three hours of your time?" he winked at me

Seeing my confused face, he answered "Chandini let me be direct, I don't know to talk in riddles. I liked you the moment I saw you in Airport. I would have said this to you on the same day, if not for my idiotic friend who was shooting me daggers, seeing me lost in you. I thought I may not see you again, but day before when I met you in our hotel I was elated. So not having a heart to let you go again, I am asking, let us hang out together and see whether we are compatible. All these happens if you have same feeling towards me. No pressures, and no coercion. What say? "

Arjun you are knocking my breath out of me. When he finished his rant, my voice box seems to be frozen. Should I reply him something now? oh yea must be that's why he is giving me such a look? My always thinking brain decided to ditch me on this occasion and started for a vacation I suppose because I cannot decipher a proper word.

All I uttered was "I am getting married in next 25 days"

He was not fazed, his cool composure maintained "Chand, you didn't say that you didn't like me. So meet me @ 7 by tonight. I will text you the meeting spot where I will be waiting for you and yea it is a date" with that said he was half way out of my house.

Chand ! Oh Freaking God he is calling me Chand. Before my brain can process the new name he had given me another one of his word struck my receptors. Date! What the hell is happening around me!

I was galvanised. Kavya's call disturbed my thoughts

"Chandu, how are you?" the ever happy tone of Kavya reached my ears

"Am doing good Kavya, before you rant on, I will take my medicines once having my breakfast. How is your trip going?" she chuckled at me

"Yeah baby I am enjoying back home but missing you" she voiced out what I was feeling. She continued with "Did that daft called you? He is calling me on your whereabouts every day and also demanding for you."

I huffed hearing his idiotic nature "I am daily getting 10-15 calls from him, but I am not picking any of those. Don't let him know you are away, either he would come down saying I am alone or he would throttle your neck for leaving me all alone"

"Done Chandu. Don't worry, before he comes back I will be by your side" she assured me knowing how much I hate to be around him

We continued chatting for some time, but I didn't say anything about Arjun, the reason is she would start getting inquisitive about him. When I hung on the call, I had already came to a conclusion. To say a big no! I thought I can be happy just by seeing him and not pulling him into my messy life. When he says all these thing my heart started to ache for the happily ever after I can have with him. But who am I kidding, that may never happen with Buaji and Pradeep around me. It would be better to meet him on person than explaining him on call.

***

"Take care of her Ms. Dhore. Make sure she takes her medication on time. She hasn't suffered major blood loss, because you have taken care to do first-aid." Doctor advised after checking unconscious Chandini

"Is this suicidal attempt because of her issues doctor" Buaji face was etched with worry.

"Suicidal attempts are something that is related with Paranoid Schizophrenia. I have always seen good improvement in her, from the time I started treating her. See nowadays she is not having the impact she had when i first started treating her.Though the person has to live with the symptoms of schizophrenia for life, with therapy they can lead a normal life .I have seen very few with that determination in my life and one among them is Chandini. She may be quiet but she is a head strong girl. Something has literally shaken her to take such a drastic step. Make sure that she is not having stress and ensure she continues the medication that helps in her panic attacks." Buaji nodded

When Chandini got consciousness, Buaji was sitting by her side. Chandini was unable to face her so she turned the other side

"Chandini I will not ask why you have taken such a haste decision, but let me say you something suicide is not the end for all." Hearing this made Chandini mad with fury.

"What else you want me to do Buaji? I am still unable to believe how come you got into such conclusion after knowing my history with him" She wept

Buaji wiped her tears and said in a firm tone "Listen Chandini, you lived, you are living and you will be living to cross all these hurdles. This phase too will pass. Believe in me, and that is all I ask for. I know that is not an easy step but take it with me I assure I will not let you down."

Chandini seeing the determination in Buaji's tone just nodded and uttered the last part "He is the reason for the death of them - Mr. and Mrs. Dhore "

Buaji's reply gave the ultimate shock to Chandini. "I know"

Pradeep reached hospital from India, just to check on Chandini, but Buaji ensured he didn't corner her alone. She was around Chandini when Pradeep was lingering around her. When Pradeep got to know Buaji has fixed his marriage with Chandini he was on cloud nine.

When Kavya returned back, she was enraged listening to Chandini's attempt on homicide. She understood why Chandini has taken such a drastic step and provided what she needed most at the time, emotional support

Chandini is unable to understand Buaji at all. She is a head strong woman, who rules their business all alone in Sydney. She never spoke a loving word towards her but ensured to take care of all her needs. Not to lie but she shielded her from Pradeep for past years but the fact that she herself is pushing for this marriage was troubling Chandini. This time she decided to believe in Buaji just like she has asked. After this suicidal fiasco, Buaji also ensured to enrol Chandini in a course of art for her graduation just like Chandini desired

***

Arjun

She looked charming just in her old tee and PJ's. Her beauty is something surreal, I will not say that she is the beautiful woman I ever met in my life but the innocence in her beauty has knocked me out of senses. When she said she is getting married, I came back to my senses, until then I was just being me to her. Not wishing to hear her profound love for that @$$hole I uttered something and made my way out of her house, technically his guest house. Though I am confused on my mixed feelings for her, I am not going to get carried away just by her looks and innocence. Even if she is innocent, she is the only trump card I have, to break him down.

I am now waiting for Chandini, in the table I reserved for. Breaking my thoughts, I sensed Chandini in the room before I spot her, blame her unique Lemon-ous citric perfume. I looked ahead to see her in a white floral pencil skirt matched with peach butterfly sleeves top and her left hand adorned with bangles. She looked like a doll, a pretty one on that. I wish I could whisk her away from this crowded place.

"Time to turn up Cinderella "she looked rattled for a second and laughed carelessly for the first time since I met her.

"Arjun, you and your flirty talks. Save some for later, your girlfriend may need them "she said wiggling her brows and taking her seat.

"I am trying to make one mine "I counter attacked her making her go crimson

Geez, did I even admire her wiggling brows. Arjun hold up your dream horse's man. Remember what you are here for. My brain was high heavy on duty to mock me for losing my sane thoughts to this pretty girl sitting in front of me

"Look Arjun let me be clear, I am getting married in matter of 25 days, this may not work out between us." She stuttered while saying this when we were walking towards parking, after few minutes of random conversation

I am not going to let her go without making her fall for my charms. At corner of my heart I felt good that at least she is not a two timer, which makes her an innocent girl just like I thought her to be .But I am most enraged thinking how much she is in love with that ogre, that she is deliberately avoiding me and my charm.

"Arjun, where are you taking me? Aren't you listening to whatever I was saying? Let me go "she was screaming at me for dragging her to my car and locking her side door once she sat in passenger seat.

Not ready to answer her questions and to control myself from thinking how cute she looked when she was mad I altered my attention to busy roads.

"There you are, my lady. Answer to all your dumb questions stand right in front of you."

I could see her caramel brown eyes go wide and scrunch in a second, she turned to look at me with big smile of hers with an appreciative look in her glance.

She was enjoying every single piece of art in the gallery we were in. When she said she was a graduate in arts and she has great interest towards painting, I made my mind to bring her once here. Never had I thought this would be of help to divert her from that scumbag's talk.

This gallery is not a buzzing one, many doesn't know about this one which has great paintings. I got to know about this one when I and Adi was searching some good paintings to decorate our Start-up restaurant. Happiness in her face reflected in each small movement of hers. I am happy that I could make her happy. Long forgotten about that idiot she started discussing what she felt towards each piece of art over there. That smile never left her face until we reached her house, she was so happy with such a small deed of mine.

"Thank you so much Arjun! It was such a perfect day" saying this she pulled me into a hug, making me dumbstruck with this act of hers.

DAMN THIS LIME FRAGRANCE, I may end up doing something sinful acts .

***

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Off to Paranoid Schizophrenia – When suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, you feel that others are conspiring against you. As these paranoid thoughts intensify, you may behave aggressively or commit violence in self-defense against those you believe plan to cause harm to you or a loved one. 

~Rami 💜