Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Looking at her so close after this much time still affects him as it did earlier. If Arjun's state is like this, there is nothing different in Ishu's state of mind. She went blank looking at those brown eyes which are staring at her like anything.

After a couple of minutes, when Ishu realized her position, she tried hard to push this man away but ended up colliding more in his arms making him grip her stronger. Pihu entered the scene at the right moment, making both embarrassed with their compromising positions. Arjun carefully made her stand.

Pihu: Hey, so you woke up at last. How are you feeling now?

"yeah fine. but you?" Asked Ishu in a confused tone about who might she be?

"I think you may not have seen me. but you know me. I am Pihu Sharma" said Pihu, throwing a smile at Ishu.

"Pihu Sharma. London 5 year girl?" Ishu stops abruptly not wanting to even take his name in her mouth. Pihu met Arjun in London when he was just five. And then they both were like online friends chatting about everything when Arjun came back to India on his 6th year birthday.

"wow. Superb. So it's clear that. This idiot had some time to tell me something. I am impressed by Ajju. That's true that I am already impressed by you." said Pihu, feeling nine that Arjun had talked about pihu with Ishu. Also, she succeeded in making the awkward situation change into some way cool. 

"Nice to meet you. I should leave now." Said Ishu abruptly not wanting to stay more than a minute there to see the face of that man.

Pihu: no. You haven't eaten anything since morning. come . have some food

"no pihu. She must be late. let her go. " says Arjun in utmost anger making Ishu flinch by his tone.

"I am not dying to have food in your home," says Ishu gritting her teeth in anger.

"oh really??. Then why don't you make your way back?" Asked Arjun with an arrogant smile signaling his door making Ishu stomp her feet in dismay.

" oops, guys come on grow up. Lett's have coffee. With hot spicy chips. "  says Pihu whereas these two just stare at each other to have a side dish of both blood. 

"Thanks, Pihu. but I can't stay here even for 1 sec," mumbled Ishu who was already controlling her tears for a long.

Pihu: Ajju. What is this? please ask her to have coffee. She may feel tired as she didn't have anything since morning. 

"Ok have something and go. " Says Arjun as if he is doing some charity over her.

"Oh. Now you want me to listen to you. like seriously? You think I will agree?" Asked Ishu crossing her arms. 

" listen.  miss. Jhansi ki Rani, Arjun learned many things, but still, he never learned to hear no. So you better sit and have something and go" says Arjun, more like ordering her.

"ok pihu. I don't have time to argue here. bye. " saying so she walks away from there not wanting to even argue with Arjun.

"so I have to call your Bittu to pick you up from here right?" Arjun casually took his phone.

"no. I will go by myself," says Ishu while stepping outside of the door.

"So You are going to have coffee. Then?" Said Arjun raising his eyebrows that's by making Ishu blackmailing directly.

"Are you blackmailing me. ?" Asked Ishu in her shocked egg-shaped eyes.

"I am impressed. You became very smart." Commented Arjun clapping his hands to which Ishu rolled her eyes and continued her way out without bothering even to answer Arjun.

Arjun takes her phone and calls Siddharth.  

Siddharth picks up the call. Arjun puts on a speaker and says hello. 

Ia gets tensed and grabs the phone in no seconds.

"but. nothing, it's wrongly dialed," she says in a panicked voice 

"Ok dhi. Is everything ok? Why are you tense? And who is that man.?" Enquired Siddharth in his little tensed tone.

"He is my friend's husband, and I am on the way only. I will be home in some time" saying so, she hangs up the call.

"But dhi Priyanka is not married?" Siddharth replies and notices the call being cut already. Because of the meeting, he didn't bother to think further about that Priyanka.

"So Pihu dear. Jhansi ki rani will have coffee in our old modeled poor home. isn't it superb?" Taunted Arjun while crossing his arms.

"stop it Ajju you are not a 5-year-old kid. And Ishu, you come." Saying so, Pihu grabbed Ishu to the backside of the home.

******

"something is not right in this design. What could it be?" Thought Mihir for half an hour only to fix the main model dress for an upcoming fashion show. He needs to submit the design before evening.

"May I come in sir?" Asked Payal who came back to Mihir's cabin.

Payal sees the designs and says "awesome who made these?"

"Payal, I didn't call you to give a grade to this design. Just see them. I am feeling that. Something is missing here. " voiced Mihir in his stressed tone. He needs to fix it at any cost.

Payal sees that for a while and at once she grabs the mouse.

"if top design like this, it will look awesome" saying so, she made some changes and was biting her lower lip to think more for changes. 

Mihir looks at her without any reaction.  She is indeed a cute creature to distract him.

Payal then realizes that she grabs his hand along with the mouse. At once she took back her hand. Mihir then looks at the designs. 

"That was perfect Payal. Good job. I will send it to Siddharth. He may be in a meeting. Now you go. Poo will guide you." saying so Mihir ordered Payal while Payal rooted to her spot like a child.

"sir but poo?" Said Payal in her low tone.

"Oh. pls, grow up Payal. This is not a school. That if you fight with one, you cant talk to them. Just go and tell poo. That I have instructed her. '' saying so Mihir shuts his laptop indicating that she has no other choice rather than on accepting his orders.

****

Pihu chose the little snack time in the poolside area where no one could even think to distract their views from the pool. It's indeed a cute view. But these Arjun and Ishu don't have time rather than to kill the other with their eyes. 

Sighing heavily, Pihu prepares coffee for Ishu. She adds sugar.

"hey Pihu. don't add much sugar for her she doesn't like much sugar" Arjun stopped abruptly from saying further. Damn his mouth. He should be doomed far behind the earth than to utter that nonsense. Did he have to open his guttermouth for this?

Ia looks at him. For some moment her eyes softened looking at him. She felt happy realizing that he still cares for her likes and dislikes. But why is she feeling happy? Changing her expressions she ignores his words as usual making him more furious.

Pihu looks at them. The little part of her heart feels jealous whereas her major part inside feels happy. She wants them to get united at any cost.

"Oh actually, if you add sugar, her bitterness would get affected. You have heard about this saying, bitterness doesn't deserve sugar" saying so Arjun smirked at Ishu.

Pihu: whose sayings is this?

"Who else can say such nonsense? It must be Arrogant Kumar Bhalla's saying" Said Ishu smirking back at Arjun.

Pihu: what? Arrogant? Wow. super name. Ajju you deserve this.

pihu laughs, while they both look in anger. 

"Hey, Ishu. how much should I add?" Asked pihu again.

"Add as much sugar as you can. I am changed. I love to have a lot of sugar. Life has given so much bitterness" says Ishu eyeing Arjun whereas he opens his mouth to taunt again.

"accha stop it guyz. Drink the coffee, instead of eating each other." Saying so pihu giggled at them.

Ia drinks that coffee. Arjun looked surprised, he knew very well that he added much sugar in her coffee so that she spits it but here she is drinking and enjoying it also. Looking at her, he took a sip of his coffee. and spits that. 

Ia gave a cruel smile, as she exchanged the coffee. 

Pihu silently watches and decides to leave the place.

"what happened? Just wait till she goes. We will spend some time together." Says Arjun giving a flying kiss to Pihu.

Ia gets annoyed and is about to leave. 

"No yaar Ajju. Mom is calling me. Bye Ishu. We will meet later. " Saying so Pihu leaves in tears. "why they are playing hide and seek. I can't see their fight. They are punishing themselves and lying." mumbled Pihu under her breath

"How will you go?. How you came to college? By car?" Enquired Arjun that's when Ishu recalls. She came riding in the car of Siddharth and Mihir. 

"I will drop you come," says Arjun looking at her expressions.

" I am not mad to come with you. I will go by myself. " saying so Ishu leaves the home abruptly.

"Your old habit of not listening to my words properly right?. I told you to come. I didn't ask your permission." Arjun said while following her outside.

Ia sits inside the car not wanting to go alone as she is feeling somewhat dizzy because of medicines.

"am I dreaming? She agreed without any lecture. That's great." mumbled Arjun under his breath.

******

Mishty Siddharth in the same hotel.  

Both received bills for their table.

"What? Dal khichdi? Seriously?" Asked Siddharth, unbelievable to the waiter who stood there in confused expressions.

"Sorry sir, I guess the bills got exchanged" saying so the waiter went to check about the same.

"Oh, Jesus!! I know the price of daal is increasing nowadays but, 1000 rupees for dal khichdi? Isn't it too much" muttered Mishty under her breath.

"Madam, you have ordered a pizza margarita with extra cheese. Also kung pao chicken." The waiter spoke reading the bill content.

"No sir, i don't even know these items. How would I order?" Asked Mishty in a panicked voice.

"Sorry madam, I guess bills got exchanged" saying so another waiter forwards her bill.

Here is the bill. She opens her purse and finds coins. She searches for a 500 rupees note which she kept. But to her surprise, she couldn't find that. 

"oh no. I was very hungry so I only came to this big hotel. I ordered dal khichdi only. but now. What will I do?" then she collects some ten rupees notes and even twenty rupee notes and counts them and she smiles that she has enough money. She then goes to pay the bill. 

At once she got hit by one waiter and the coins fell.

All people start laughing at her for bringing coins to such a big hotel. 

Mishty presses her lips hard to control her sobs. She cursed herself for choosing this hotel. But it's only her hunger that made her go there and she feels so insulted and humiliated. Even though she could bash at them, she didn't. She already felt odd to give these coins to pay bills. 

Siddharth was standing behind her. He couldn't see Mishty. Still, he gets very angry towards everyone laughing.

"Just shut up guys. At Least she has money to pay her bills. Rather than like you guys who came over here to eat with your friend's money. So first see yourself. " taunted Siddharth with his annoyed voice making everyone turn their faces. Mishty felt so happy that at least there is someone who can stand for justice in this world.

Siddharth came and gave his hand to Mishty. She climbs up. And with force, she landed over his chest. Raising her eyelids she looked at Siddharth and was shocked to see him.

The waiter picked up all the coins and went to settle the bill. 

"Thanks." Mumbled Mishty feeling embarrassed. She doesn't want to get saved by this man for sure.

"Keep your thanks for yourself and you better try to fight for yourself." Snapped Siddharth nonchalantly.

Mishty leaves without any reply. She is already overwhelmed with his greatness. And doesn't want to fight with him as she knows whatever she tells him, he would taunt her and she will end up fighting with him. 

******

Arjun and Ishu in the car

Arjun starts the music player. 

An old Hindi romantic number started playing. The lyrics did their best to match their situation. Both felt awkward listening to the song with each other.

He changes the song.

Another famous song started playing. The song holds many more memories of them.

They both look at each other. 

A song which changed their life.A song that made Ishu's heart flutter one time. The song which Arjun HIMSELF wrote for someone special. The song holds many memories.

Both traveled back to that time when the song plays its vital role. 

Two years back:

Flashback

Arjun with a white plain full-hand t-shirt. Singing that song for beautiful Ishu. Where she is wearing the same white plain long frock. 

"Arjun, whenever you sing, I can't control my heart!" Said Ishu controlling her blushing cheeks 

"Ia. Because I am singing every line for you." Confessed Arjun in his most romantic tone ever making Ishu smile more in shyness.

"are you trying to impress me?" Asked Ishu raising her eyebrows.

"Should I try? I think you are already impressed by this ajju, right?" Asked Arjun with a smirk.

"For me, you are not Ajju. You will always be Arjun," said Ishu, correcting his mistake.

"Okay baby," says Arjun while Ishu pokes her fingers in his mouth

"don't call me baby." Says Ishu in an annoyed tone. She hates the word baby. As Arjun always calls all his girl fans babies. She wants to be someone special in her life. 

Fb ends with their cute hug

At once Arjun switches off the music. but not before glancing towards Ishu who is gulping her saliva hard to wet her dry throat. She looked away as if she doesn't care for any damn things. And it surely hurts his pride. 

"you should have done this before. " snapped Ishu looking away, making him grit his teeth harder.