Chupanke Ki Saaza
-PART
18-
Jai Confident
"Finished?"
Neil asked a tired looking Bani.
"Almost…
how come you are still here?"
"Waiting
for you obviously!"
Bani
looked from her laptop screen, to find a grinning Neil. It was almost two weeks
since he joined the company and already, he was in good terms with everyone.
Topping that list was Bani herself, with whom he shared everything. At this
point, they were nothing less than two good friends. Atleast, that's what she
thought!
"But
its 7pm!" Bani said, surprised. "Why would you wait this long for me?"
"Why
wouldn't I?"
Bani
smiled, really touched. Ek mera pati hai,
she thought sarcastically. Who didn't
call me the whole day, and then there is you, who waited so long! Why is my
life so messed up?
"Waise
you work too hard," Neil said, watching her study some files.
"You
observe too much," she replied, absent-mindedly.
"Did
you know they opened a new Chinese restaurant down the street from here?"
"hmm.."
"Tumhe
Chinese food bahut pasand hai na?"
"M-hmm."
"So,
why not go today, once you are done?"
Bani
looked up at that comment. Did he ask me
out to dinner? She thought. "Like together...?"
Neil
was nervous at once and began fidgeting with his hands. "As friends… you know."
"Chill!"
she said, laughing at his innocence. "I was just asking. No need to get so
nervous."
Neil
let out a sigh of relief. While he particulary didn't harbour feelings for his
boss, what it was only two weeks since his appointment, but he definetly had a
soft corner for her.
Bani
quickly finished her work and packed up for the day.
"Do
you guys always work this late?" Neil asked, as Bani gave one last sweep of the
room.
"Guys?"
she replied, confused. "Who else is still here?"
"Mr.
Walia," Neil answered. "He is still in his cabin."
"Jai
is still here?" she said. Of course,
she added to herself. He must still be
working on the new project. I swear, one of these days, he should just move
into his office. And Im pretty sure, he didn't even have dinner yet.
"Kya
hua?" Neil asked, watching Bani deep in thought. "Why did you stop?"
"Ummm….
Actually, Neil," she said, slowly. "I just remembered something to do. So, you
go ahead."
"That's
okay. I will wait for you and then we will go for dinner."
"No,
it will take a while."
"Koi
baath nahi Bani!"
"But…but,
I will feel guilty. Please, tum jao!"
Neil
was utterly confused. "Abhi tak toh teek thi, phir kya hua?"
Urghh… why does
he ask so much questions? "Its urgent. We will go some other time."
"Promise?"
Bani
nodded.
"Accha
teek hai. Good night!" he said, before leaving the cabin.
Heaving
a sigh of relief, Bani took out her phone. "Hi," she said. "I want take-out for
two people."
* * *
Jai's
stomach let out a growl. "Shut-up," he muttered, while he continued to read the
file at hand. "We have a long way to go tonight."
"No
you don't," Bani replied, laughing. Who
talks to their stomach?
Jai
looked up surprised. "Tum abhi tak ghar nahi gayi?"
"And
leave you here?"
Bani
placed the food she ordered on the table. "Dinner."
Jai
raised his eyebrow. "Bani Dixit mere liye khana lekar aayi hai?"
"Haan,"
she replied, sitting down. "Kyunki tum apna khayal hi nahi rakthe ho."
Jai
refrained from smiling and greedily took a bite. It was delicious!
"Kaisa
hai?" Bani asked, curious.
"Its
really good."
Bani
let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god. I was hoping you didn't mind Chinese food
too much."
"Tum
kab samjoge," he answered. "Jo tumhe pasand ho, woh mujhe bhi pasand hoga."
Bani
grinned. He knows I like Chinese food!,
she thought happily.
"Waise,"
Jai said, watching her eat. "Tumhara boyfriend kahan hai?"
"Kaun,
Neil?"
"Obviously."
"Why
would he be here with me?"
Jai
leaned back in his chair. "Because he never leaves you. You are the first one
he says hi to, he has breakfast with you, he has meetings with you, he has
lunch with you and everyday without a fail, offers to drive you home. So, aaj
tumhe yahan akele kaise rehne diya?"
"So
you keep tabs on me?" she smirked, reminding him of a similar comment he made
about her a few days ago.
"I
am just a good observer."
"I
think you are just jealous."
Jai
raised his eyebrow. "Jealous of what? Neil?"
"Ofcourse,"
Bani replied, fully enjoying the moment. "Woh mera itna khayal joh raktha hai."
"He
doesn't know how to take care of you."
"And
you do?"
Jai
picked up his fork and began eating, taking his time to answer. "You need
someone to take care of you, not the other way around."
"Kyun?
Neil can take care of me! In fact he already does!"
"You
don't need a puppy to keep running behind you."
"That's
very low," Bani retorted. "Neil doesn't run after me."
Jai
looked at Bani. "Look at me and tell me you believe that."
Bani
averted her eyes, causing Jai to grin in triumph. "Dekha… even you can't deny
it!"
"So
what?" she said. "He is cute."
Jai
smiled, but didn't answer.
"Accept
it," she pressed. "You are jealous of him."
"No,"
he said, very calmly. "Im not."
Jai's
composture troubled Bani. It was very obvious that he wasn't lying. "How are
you so confident?"
"Kyunki
main tumhe jaantha hoon," he answered. "Neil is not your type."
"Neil
mein kya kharabi hai?" Bani fired back. "He looks good, he earns good too. He
is super smart and more importantly, cares
for me. So, why is he not my type?"
"Because
he is not me."
Silence
overtook the room, as Bani stared at Jai, trying to understand the look on his
face. Was it confidence that she loved only him or arrogance that she can't
move on from him?
"I
can move on you know," she said finally. "I can like him too."
"Be
my guest," Jai said with a smile. "But don't have too many hopes."
Bani
stood up, having finished her food. "So, let me get this straight. Tumhe koi
farak nahi padtha, if I go out with Neil."
Jai
shook his head.
"Good,"
she replied, making her way to the door. "Then it shouldn't bother you that he
asked me out to dinner tomorrow night."
Jai
didn't answer, causing Bani to stop in the doorway, with a smirk on her face. "Right?"
she said.
Jai kept his face blank and gave a curt nod.
"Have fun."
*****************************************************************************************
I know, i know - its super short. But will definitely make the next update long and juicy! 😆
Gotta run!
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