#23--- Finally!!! ...

Alas! It was Aashritha.

Arjun's heart skipped a beat for a second and then recovered. He was surprised to find the person who didn't attend him when he was sick but appeared when he was fine. Even though his mind bugged him to ask her the reason for her absence all these days, his heart was dignified enough not to hurt her with any of his words. 

He let it be, thinking that, 'why the hell should she come and meet me when I have a leg broken? Is she my lover or what? Stop thinking all this sh**. Go and greet her with a smile.'

He said, "Hey Aashritha, Long time no see? How are you madam?". 

Aashritha was shocked to find him talking to her in a pleasing and sweet tone rather than going all guns blazing on her. She smiled and said," Hey Arjun, how's your leg? I'm sorry, I wasn't available at your place during your times of pain and agony. I guess, you would have cursed me for not even visiting you?"

"It doesn't matter now, I'm perfectly alright. And, by the way, I haven't cursed you. So, how about the coffee that I missed some while ago?" questioned Arjun.
 He was not going to miss any chance of her being with him when she herself has come along with Neeraja to meet him.

"Sure. So you are not cross on me? That's very humble of you to forgive someone who's responsible for your pain". Aashritha wasn't letting Arjun to divert the topic instead she was feeling guilty for not meeting Arjun.

"Okay Nihal, you come along with Neeraja on your bike. I'll be coming with Aashritha. So that you two could also have your own privacy", Arjun was making the situation lighter for everybody present there.

{Aashritha's scooter:

Arjun: You know what's second to the happiness you get when riding your own vehicle?

Aashritha: Naah! You should probably know the answer.

Arjun: It's sitting behind a girl, you like talking to, and having an interesting conversation. That should be it coz this situation now has made me to have butterflies in my stomach.

Aashritha: Hehehe. I too feel the same each and every time I talk to you.

}

{CAFE- Neatly seated and waiting for their respective coffee...

Aashritha: Hey both of you are cordially invited to our college's fest being conducted by us. I'm gonna kill you guys if you're not available that day. I've got special surprise for you, Arjun.

Arjun: Sure then, I won't be missing the surprise, no matter what Nihal has to say.

Neeraja: Okay then. Let's meet up again on that day. It's getting late, my parents go crazy at me if I get 

Arjun: Ok then, That's fine buddy. You guys leave. And I promise you we'll be there for your fest and more importantly for your surprise Aashritha.

Aashritha: I won't be talking to you, if you are gonna break the promise. Mind You Arjun.

"Ok, fine baaba... I'll be there, don't worry", he gives them a send-off and gets back to Nihal.
"So, yeah, are you coming on that day Nihal?"

"Naah, negative! Neeraja and I have a date fixed on that day, so you should be the one who's gonna entertain your girl all day long that day. So, don't miss out on the opportunity", Nihal replied.

"Chalo it's getting late. We'll think about it later", said Arjun.

[The moment he entered his room, his mobile phone beeped in his pocket, he pulled it out and was smiling at the message which said .......

{TO BE CONTINUED...}

#22--- BEDRIDDEN AND WAITING...

{A week after the accident- Arjun's House}

Rajiv: So is that it?

Arjun: Yes buddy. That's what has happened until now. I'm actually humbled by your gesture.

Rajiv: Never mind bro. People are gonna get inspired by your love story and I will just be a transmitting medium about your life. And one more thing, I won't be meeting you any further and as you have already promised me earlier that you won't be discussing about the story with Aashritha.

Arjun: No, I won't. Thanks again for the help. I'll definitely keep up my promise. So, you need not worry.

Rajiv: Don't mention. So yeah, I'll have to leave, my readers have been waiting for the next episode from me. Take care of your health and all the best.

{2nd week:

Many relatives, whom Arjun hardly knows, come and go out of the house after showing their (fake) sad faces. There's no sign of Aashritha yet. 2 weeks have gone by

{3rd week:

Arjun's health condition almost recovered but not in the perfect shape. He couldn't find out why Aashritha was still not visiting him.His mood was brought back to senses when all his friends get by his side in the evening for their routine chit-chatting that they usually do at the sea shore. The usual pranks and the discussion about the happenings in the college. His fun quotient was not missing even though he missed his classes. Everything was neatly described to him with pin point detail to each and every element of the scene.

{4th week:

It's almost been a month since the accident occurred and still there was no sign of Aashritha. Arjun was getting irritated by the day and was adamant in getting his plasters removed quickly to meet Aashritha. His friends weren't understanding the fact, they were like 'why is he worrying about her when she's just a friend?' Arjun wanted to get out of his bed and free his legs from the burden he carried for the 2 fortnights' span.

{5th week:

Arjun along with Nihal at the hospital completed the billing and other necessary procedures were moving out of the hospital. On the way down the steps they were blocked by a huge old lady trying extremely hard to get down the steps. She wasn't moving quick nor giving way for the others. Both the friends were having fun at the back of her looking at her plight. Then Arjun asked her "Aunty, there's a lift in every floor, why don't use it rather than these steps?"

" Yes, I know that, son. But my husband in the ward up there wants me to use the steps no matter where I am. He wants me to work out and get slim even at this age", replied the old lady.

" Why do you do it when it's that difficult for you?", questioned Nihal.

"I love my husband and I don't want to disappoint him either. Can't I suffer just to make my husband smile at me? You know kids this is what you call as love and not what you guys do at the cafe's and parks.

Both Arjun and Nihal for once looked at each other and were enlightened by the elderly woman. Those clown-like faces which were making fun of her until then turned grave and looked up at her with respect. They slowly got down the stairs without much fuss, wished her husband a speedy recovery and bid adieu to her.

Arjun, who was limping after his plasters was removed, moved his gaze from his legs towards the person standing in front of him. The seriousness slowly faded away bringing in a bright and wide CLOSE-UP smile to his face.

{TO BE CONTINUED...}

#21--- TWIST IN THE STORY-2...

[AASHRITHA WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF A HUGE 8 STOREYED BUILDING AND WAS TREMBLING WITH FEAR. SHE COULD FEEL A JOLT RUNNING DOWN HER SPINE AS SHE WALKED THROUGH THE CORRIDOR IN THE HOSPITAL. THE REPEATED SIRENS OF THE AMBULANCE, THE CRIES OF THE PEOPLE, THE GRIEF STRICKEN FACES AND THE SORROWS BEHIND THEIR EXPRESSIONS WERE MAKING AASHRITHA EVEN THE MORE WORRIED ABOUT WHY SHE WAS THERE.

AASHRITHA CALLED ARJUN'S NUMBER TO FIND OUT WHERE THE PERSON WHO CALLED WAS. SHE WAS DIRECTED TO ROOM NO.90920. THE ELEVATOR WAS FULL AND SHE HAD TO TAKE THE STEPS ROUTE TO THE SEVENTH FLOOR. HER TREMBLING LEGS AND THE ENTIRE SURROUNDINGS WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO MOVE FASTER. SOMEHOW SHE FINDS THE CORRECT ROOM AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE ARJUN ON THE BED WITH PLASTERS ON HIS LEFT LEG AND HIS RIGHT HAND. SHE GASPED FOR AIR UPON SEEING THE SIGHT IN FRONT OF HER. THE GLASSED SPACE ON THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THROUGH WHAT'S INSIDE WAS BECOMING WET WITH HER TEARS.

SHE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR AND WAS WELCOMED BY ARJUN'S BEAMING SMILE.SHE PUSHES HER WAY THROUGH THE HEAVY DOOR AND GETS TO THE CHAIR BESIDE HIM, PUTS ASIDE HER SLING BAG AND STARTS CRYING.

 ARJUN COLLECTS HER TEARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND ,"HELLO MADAM! PLEASE STOP CRYING ELSE MY BANDAGE WOULD GET WET AND HAS TO BE REPLACED TODAY ITSELF." 

ON THAT FUNNY NOTE FROM ARJUN, AASHRITHA SMILES A BIT WHILE ARJUN BRUSHES AWAY THE TEARS ON HER FACE WITH HIS OTHER HAND.

JUST WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT TO ASK SOMETHING... SOMEONE ENTERS INTO THE ROOM AND ARJUN SMILES AT HIM AND SAYS, " HE IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR ME BEING HERE".

AASHRITHA GETS UP FURIOUSLY ,IN A SPLIT-SECOND GOES OVER TO THE PERSON."DON'T YOU KNOW, HOW TO DRIVE ON THE ROADS? AND DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW PAINFUL IT IS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VICTIM?

 EVEN BEFORE ARJUN COULD EVEN REACT WITH HIS NEXT SENTENCE THE CRIME HAD ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED. A TIGHT SLAP ON THE CHEEKS OF THE STRANGER AND THEN ARJUN'S WORDS GET OUT OF HIS MOUTH SAYING "...HE WAS THE ONE WHO ADMITTED ME TO THE HOSPITAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ME WHO DASHED HIS CAR...." 

ALL THE THREE OF THEM IN THE ROOM WERE SHELL SHOCKED UPON THE INCIDENT AND ALL OF THEM HAD THEIR HANDS ON THEIR MOUTHS. AASHRITHA WAS EMBARRASSED, ARJUN WAS ASHAMED AND THE STRANGER WAS STILL OUT OF HIS SENSES- ONE HAND OF HIS WAS ON HIS LEFT CHEEK AND THE OTHER ON HIS MOUTH.

"SORRY DUDE!!!! "

"I'M SORRY SIR, I SHOULDN'T HAVE REACTED SO QUICKLY. I'M EXTREMELY SORRY", PLEADED AASHRITHA.

"THAT'S FINE. I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR SHOCKING REACTION. BUT PLEASE BE GENTLE TO STRANGERS", THE STRANGER REPLIED WITTILY.

"HEY AASHRITHA, I HAVEN'T INTRODUCED HIM TO YOU RIGHT? THIS IS Mr. Rajiv Nair AND HE IS A WRITER. YOU MUST THANK HIM FOR HIS WONDERFUL HELP IN CARRYING YOUR FRIEND IN HIS ARMS ...MAKING ME SIT IN HIS CAR... ADMITTING ME HERE AND ALSO TAKING CARE OF ME UNTIL YOU WERE HERE", ARJUN INTRODUCED THE STRANGER TO AASHRITHA.

"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND DO CONSIDER MY APOLOGIES, IT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL", AASHRITHA GREETED HIM.

"THAT'S FINE, PEOPLE. THERE'S ACTUALLY NO REASON TO THANK ME, I DID WHAT I SHOULD HAVE TO DO, THAT'S IT AND IT'S A PLEASURE MEETING BOTH YOU GUYS", REPLIED RAJIV.

THERE WERE SMILES ALL AROUND THE WARD AND SUDDENLY RAJIV'S EYES MET ARJUN'S WHICH WERE LOOKING AT HIM SADLY. THE ARTS BACKGROUND QUICKLY UNDERSTOOD THE REASON FOR HIS SADNESS AND LEFT THE ROOM FOR THE TWO 
OF THEM TO HAVE THEIR PRIVACY. HE WAS OUTSIDE THE ROOM AND WAS VIEWING THE SCENES INSIDE THE ROOM THROUGH THE GLASSED OPENING.

BOTH AASHRITHA AND ARJUN WERE DEEPLY LOST IN STARING AT EACH OTHERS AND TEARS STARTED FLOWING FROM AASHRITHA'S EYES.

 SHE PLACED HER HAND IN HIS PLASTERED HAND AND SAID SOBBING "ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF ME, IF ONLY I HADN'T HURRIED YOU, WE WOULD BY NOW HAVING OUR CUP OF COFFEE IN THE CAFE AND WOULD HAVE STARTED HOME BY NOW."

"LOOK, NOTHING'S IN OUR HANDS. YOU DON'T WORRY. I'LL BE ALRIGHT IN A MONTH OR SO. THEN WE CAN HAVE OUR COFFEE IN THE CAFE. YOU START TO YOUR HOME NOW, I'LL ASK RAJIV TO STAY HERE UNTIL NIHAL COMES HERE AND I'M SURE HE WOULDN'T MIND STAYING HERE FOR ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR OR MORE", CONSOLED ARJUN, AGAIN WIPING OFF HER TEARS.

THE WHOLE EPISODE IN THE WARD WAS PLEASING RAJIV AND HE  WAS INSPIRED WITH A NEW CONCEPT FOR HIS BLOG.

A FEW MOMENTS AFTER AASHRITHA LEFT THE HOSPITAL, RAJIV ENTERED THE WARD, SMILED AT ARJUN AND ASKED HIM "ARE THE TWO OF YOU IN A RELATIONSHIP?"

"I WOULD LOVE TO GET INTO A RELATION WITH HER, BUT FOR NOW WE'RE STILL YOUNG AT OUR HEARTS AND FEAR OF REJECTION. JUST GELLING IN CLOSER IN THE MEANTIME.

"OH, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR AND ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR FUTURE DUDE. I'LL BE STAYING HERE UNTIL SOMEONE OF YOUR FRIENDS OR A FAMILY MEMBER VISIT THIS PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. IS THAT FINE?" ASKED RAJIV.

"THANK YOU. THAT'S SO NICE OF YOU. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU IN THIS REGARD. DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN REPAY YOU?" ARJUN WAS HUMBLED UPON RAJIV'S GESTURE TO STAY WITH HIM UNTIL SOMEONE COMES.

"I JUST NEED A HELP FROM YOU FOR MY NEW BLOG. I NEED YOUR STORY SO THAT I CAN PUBLISH IT IN MY OWN WAY. EVERY DETAIL AND INCIDENT UNTIL NOW IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN CONNECTION WITH AASHRITHA. IF YOU DON'T MIND"

"WOW, THAT'S A WONDERFUL OFFER. WHY WOULD I MIND SIR? WHO DOESN'T WANT HIS LOVE STORY TO GET POPULAR TO THE WORLD? I WILL DISCLOSE EACH AND EVERY MOMENT UNTIL NOW",  REPLIED ARJUN AND HIS HAPPINESS KNEW NO BOUNDS.

"THANKS FOR ACCEPTING AND PLEASE DON'T CALL ME 'SIR'. I'M NOT THAT ELDER TO YOU. YOU CAN CALL ME RAJIV. SO YEAH, SHALL WE START THE PROCEEDINGS?", RAJIV WAS EQUALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THE STORY FROM ARJUN.

"OF COURSE!!!YES!!! 
IT ALL STARTED ONE DAY WHEN I ASKED HER FOR HER WATER 
BOTTLE IN A SEMINAR...................................................................................

{THE REST IS ALL HISTORY.....
TO BE CONTINUED.....}

#20--- TWIST IN THE STORY-1...

[TIME: half past 3 on the clock...

ARJUN WAS IN A HURRY TO GET DRESSED IN A CORRECT MANNER TO MEET AASHRITHA AFTER A BREAK. HE WAS A BIT ON THE SLOWER SIDE, LIKE EVERY OTHER GUY GETTING READY TO MEET HIS GIRL, HE TOOK OUT FOUR PAIRS OF CLOTHES OUT OF HIS WARDROBE AND STARTED PLAYING "INKY PINKY PONKY...FATHER HAD A DONKEY" IN ORDER TO PICK OUT A PAIR.

IT WAS "QUARTER LESS FOUR" WHEN HE COMPLETED HIS GETUP AND WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE CAFE. ALTHOUGH HE WAS ALREADY LATE BY 15 MINUTES, HE WANTED TO BUY HER A BOUQUET AS A SIGN OF ROMANCE. THE FEELING OF TRYING TO IMPRESS HER WAS MAKING ARJUN ADAMANT TO SELECT THE BEST ONE OUT OF THE LOT.

{MEANWHILE- AT THE CAFE...

AASHRITHA HAD BEEN LONG WAITING FOR ARJUN'S ARRIVAL AND WAS ALSO AWAITING A COFFEE IN THE CAFE. SHE WAS CURSING BOTH ARJUN AND THE STAFF AT THE CAFE FOR THEIR TARDINESS.

IT WAS 5PM AND STILL THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ARJUN IN THE CAFE OR IN ITS SURROUNDINGS. A FRUSTRATED AASHRITHA CALLED UP ARJUN AND WAS FUMING ON THE PHONE. ARJUN SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PLEASE HER AND MADE HER WAIT FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES.

HALF AN HOUR PAST FIVE AND THINGS WERE GETTING VERY DISTURBING FOR AASHRITHA. SHE AGAIN CALLS UP ARJUN TO ENQUIRE WHETHER HE WOULD BE MEETING HER OR NOT. MUCH TO HER DISAPPOINTMENT HER PHONE CALL GOES UNATTENDED.

"6PM"- JUST WHEN AASHRITHA WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE CAFE, SHE RECEIVES A CALL FROM THE ONE FOR WHOM SHE HAS WAITING EVER SINCE. SHE IGNORES THE CALL FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEN PICKS UP THE CALL FOR THE SECOND TIME.

"Hello", spoke the voice from the other side.

"Ha", said Aashritha very sternly.

"Is this Aashritha?"

"Yes, speaking. Who is this?" quizzed aashritha to the one on the phone.

[AASHRITHA GOT UP QUICKLY , PAID THE BILL AND WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THE CAFE. SHE WAS SWEATING PROFUSELY AFTER DISCONNECTING THE CALL]

{TO BE CONTINUED...}