FF~:Human After All:~ Imp note Pg 150:) - Page 44

                                                     Part 10~ Hide and Seek

She read the note again slowly this time, read it again, and again and again...

She almost wished that she had prescribed Rat Poison.., But then you'd have been staring at a suicide note instead Khanak, and nursing your cold in a miserable Jail cell..

She banged her hand hard against her desk in frustration, hit a sharp edge and screamed out in pain.. Tears spontaneously started flowing from her eyes, tears of pain, of anguish and doubt. She didn't stop them, as she stared at the blood starting to seep out of cut in her hand. It had started to smart and throb. She looked at the wound fascinated, and then grabbed some tissue to blot the blood as it threatened to spill over.

AAAChooo! She sneezed again, her head had started to ache and feel heavy. She wiped her nose and face, pretty sure that she looked more like a patient than a doctor at this time. She had skipped wearing her sari today, instead she had worn a simple salwar suit, and had just run the brush through her hair. She hadn't even felt like wearing her usual minimalistic makeup, she had felt so rotten.

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Khushi!!??...Akshay said, as he buttoned up his shirt..he was feeling overwhelmingly emotional at the moment.

Hmmm??..Khushboo glanced at him surprised, he hadn't addressed her that way in years!..

Khushboo lost her captive audience as Megha jumped off the table and ran to her father who swung her up in his arms and propped her on his shoulders, a ritual they had adopted lately since the accident. Akshay had made up his mind to spend some time with Megha before he went to work everyday, to make up for the precious time he had wasted so far, watching her grow from a new born to a beautiful child.

Meghaaa!!...Why do you allow her to do that Akshay?? She will get spoilt and so willl your shirt!..Khushboo said somewhat annoyed.

She deserves every ounce of attention we can give her, she's our baby! And who cares about this shirt Khushboo...Not Me! Akshay said irritated that his wife had just been showing off in front Megha.

By the way, what did want to ask me earlier when you had called me Khushi..so sweetly??...she had gone back to looking at her mirror.

Huh?? I forgot! He brushed her off. He had wanted to talk to her about a companion for Megha, perhaps even a baby brother. But then he had been misled by what he had seen earlier. A terrible miscalculation.

Shaan was feeling quite sprightly this morning. He had woken up at 0700 feeling refreshed and ready to face a new day. Showered and dressed himself in a record time of half an hour and even tried to dance a jig with Harilal, who thought that Shaan baba had either gone mad or was in Love..! He even tried to kiss Harilal, which he managed to dodge with success, and only Madhavi's scream brought him back to his senses.

What are you saying mom? I don't get you! I hope you didn't experiment too much last night at the party!.said Shaan quite puzzled by Madhavi's outburst.

Nooo!! Thanks!!.Shaan said anxiously.., I'm old enough to handle stuff on my own!

Hokay!...Chalo.but make sure she has a good dress sense, you know I'm very particular about that!..Madhavi said adjusting her designer sari.

Shaan nodded, heaving a sigh of relief..thankful that Khanak was as simple as they come.

His good mood was evident to Akshay too as they drove together to work. Shaan was humming along to some old Hindi numbers, seeming mast, lost in his own thoughts.

She must have got the letter by now and the bottle, I wish I'd been there to see her reaction..it must have been priceless!..He thought and chuckled.

Dr Agarwal is indeed one lucky girl, Shaan.. Akshay remarked smiling.

Shaan stopped humming and looked at his brother surprised.. Really?? You think so bro?

I hope she realizes that SOOON!!! For my Sake bro! Shaan said laughing..

Shaan could hear the bitterness in his brother's voice and felt for him. He loved his brother dearly and had always wished him the best. He remembered that he too had been dazzled by Khushboo, and in fact had for sometime envied his brother for marrying her. Only later did he realize that her shiny exterior hid a pretty shallow interior, where there was no place for anyone besides her.

At work everyone was surprised to see him in a great mood, he smiled at everybody and thanked them individually for their good wishes. When Shiela, his secretary informed him about the boat load of pending work he had, he gave her a broad grin and told her to bring it on.

Shaan reassured himself that it was too early to expect something back from Khanak. It was early yet, and she had her work to attend to. Maybe after lunch would be a good time, he knew that she wouldn't be able to resist sending a nasty retort to his note, of that he was pretty certain.

As time passed Shaan grew restless, he found himself unable to concentrate on his work. He kept watching the clock and the door. Shiela kept walking in and out of his office informing him of his various meetings and appointments and he listened only with half an ear. Nothing came that day and also the next. On the third day, Shaan was in a frenzy..

He rushed out asking Shiela to delegate the work as she saw fit..., leaving her looking frustrated.

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She could forget about sleeping, for that seemed to his permanent haunt. Her restless mind had given him various disguises, and he seemed to make good use of them, appearing in her dreams in different avatars.

It had been more than 36 hrs since Khanak had slept (not counting a quick nap or nodding off during her meals,) and she was pretty confident that she was on the verge of proving Shaan wrong.

She entered the coffee shop adjacent to the hospital for the umpteenth time that day. She had been haunting it like Shaan had been haunting her, and the attendants there were getting pretty used to seeing her.

Sambhal ja Khanak! People will think that you are drunk!..Khanak thought as she swayed on her feet, dizzy with exhaustion.

She walked to the closest table and sat down and held her head in her hands, closing her eyes for just a minute.

She jerked up when she heard someone place a freshly brewed cup of fragrant cappucino in front of her..

That someone took a seat in front of her, and gave her a wide smile. He looked like her nemesis..Shantanu Khandelwal! Was she dreaming with her eyes open??

Shaan's smile turned in to a look of concern as he saw her look at him as if she had seen a ghost! And she did not seem very pleased to see him!

He waved his hand in front of her face, and said..Hey!! I am Shaan! Shantanu Khandelwal!

Khanak decided that she wasn't hallucinating...

Madam..it doesn't take rocket science to figure out what is your favorite place besides the hospital!.. Shaan said looking at her fondly.

And why are you talking to me like that??..Khanak's said, her voice shaking with anger.

As your future Husband, of course! Koi Shaque??...Shaan said oozing with confidence.

Your likeness dominates my vision

Your name is at the tip of my tongue

Rejoice..

You've accomplished your mission