He wondered why ' after all he knew this was in store. In fact, he wanted this to happen. He came back to India only after Sameer confirmed that Damini was getting engaged to Inder. The Gods had finally shown some mercy on him - Damini Gujral was getting engaged to another man in 3 days time.
There she was, standing next to Inder and her family, looking more beautiful than he remembered. Damini Gujral ' Sameer's twin, Head of Operations for Gujral Industries, the only daughter of the celebrated Gujrals, the apple of their eye and the mistress of his heart.
He had known her for 12 years now ' since she was a gangly teenager, bratty and full of unnecessary attitude and false bravado. But through those years they had formed a unique bond that transcended all definitions and the usual nomenclature.
He met Sameer in boarding school, when he was 15. A month after he was orphaned. Sameer was 2 years junior to him and they were thrown together as roommates. Those had been difficult times for Prithvi Saxena. Hell'who was he kidding, life had been difficult for him. But right after his parents were killed in car accident and he had been left alone in the world, life had been especially cruel. Sameer , with his usual enthusiasm and jest for life had been his only friend. His best friend who shared everything with him unselfishly. Including his family. Mr. & Mrs. Gujral had given him the home that he had lost without holding back. They had taken him in, a clueless fifteen year old orphan, had literally saved his life. Although they would hate it if they knew how obligated he felt towards them, the fact was, he did. And he always would.
He could not betray this incredible family's faith and affection by claiming Damini. Especially, since Damini deserved so much more than he could offer.
Damini saw him, watching her with hooded eyes. Why did he come back'why?? Just when she thought she had been able to lock away her feelings for him, his highness, Mr. Prithvi Saxena had decided to grace her life again. Right before her engagement. "This is Unfair", she pondered for the umpteenth time since he landed 2 days back.
She had hated him, when he came to stay with them the 1st summer. She was always used to being the most important person in her family and she did not like sharing her twin brother Sameer and Mamma-Papa's affections with an outsider. But with time she saw, how independent he was, his self pride, the way he cringed and shut people out every time anyone showed him pity. Slowly, he carved his place in her heart and became her friend, her biggest confidant.
She looked forward to the summer holidays not only for Sameer to come home from boarding school, but also for Prithvi's presence in her life. Unlike, Sameer, Prithvi and she shared the same passion for horses. They would fight over the best way to groom them, which horse loved Prithvi more, her recklessness when she rode and about so much more. But in all those fights, they formed a strong bond of friendship that ran deep, evident to even their common friends. Nobody messed with Damini when Prithvi was around. He ensured that with his mere presence.
When Prithvi started college, he would visit them for shorter periods since Sameer and he were no more in the same insititution. Sameer was studying medicine and Prithvi had taken up Finance.
Things changed when he went away to pursue his MBA in Yale. He came back after 2 years and things got awkward between them. He was "Bhaiya" to Sameer, "Beta" to her parents but she couldn't figure out what he meant to her. She certainly didn't feel the affection for him that she felt for Sameer. Her skin prickled when he stood close by her, her senses awake, reveling every time their hands brushed. Nah, definitely not a very sisterly reaction.
Through the period he was in India, he behaved like a deported Grizzly bear. He didn't talk to her as much as he did before, but would be always around when she went out. He barely let her out of his sight, behaving like a protective body guard. Sometimes she caught him looking at her with a dazed expression but shut her out every time she tried to probe. She didn't understand this change in him and it bothered her. She missed having him around now that he was miles away but somehow she couldn't tell him that. Atleast, not as easily she would have a few years back.
They would still talk over phone and correspond over an occasional email while he was in US. But when he was in her house, present before her eyes she didn't know what to do. She still remembered the night before he left home the last time, vivid in her memories like it happened last night.
Sameer had finally started going steady with Avni, a sweet, small town girl he had met during his internship. Damini had started getting involved in their family business much to her parent's relief. Prithvi had just got an offer from a prestigious firm in the US and was torn between the idea of staying in US or returning home.
The 4 of them were sitting by the pool in their house, chatting about future plans. Sameer soon got bored and declared Avni needed to see around the house. Prithvi winked at Damini hearing this. They shared a knowing laugh at Sameer & Avni's retreating backs because they both knew Avni had visited the house many times and knew her way around the house. Which meant they also knew Sameer's intentions clearly!!
Prithvi & Damini sat there mulling over wine & chatting about friends, family and how happy Sameer looked with Avni. It was during this long conversation that Damini had got up to get a glass of water, when she tripped over the foot of deck chair. Prithvi held her instinctively to break her fall and there was nothing unfamiliar about that. He had got up to help her and she braced herself clutching his arms.
What was different though, was that he didn't let her go and that she felt secure in his arms. And the fact that she wanted that moment to last a lifetime. The way he traced his finger along her jaw and the shivers that ran down her spine. New feelings that finally made sense of the awkwardness they felt around each other in the last few days. As they looked into each other's eyes, it finally dawned upon Damini ' that Prithvi Saxena meant the world for her. With a deep sense of relief, she saw the same yearning in Prithvi's eyes, a fire in them that only warmed her heart. He dipped his head ever so slightly, his eyes riveted on her lips, when they heard voices floating towards them. Sameer & Avni were coming back and Prithvi distanced her from him firmly. His eyes dripped of guilt and he turned his back on her, shutting her out.
They had soon dispersed after this and Prithvi had refused to even look at her. Damini was confused and disturbed. Could he feel for her the way she felt towards him? When he had held her, his eyes told her that she was special. She suspected that Prithvi was very close to kissing her before they were so rudely interrupted. Then why was he behaving like this right after? Was he worried she didn't like him. Could he be that clueless? Maybe she should tell him how she felt. Prithvi wasn't a man of many words, but he had always been honest and upfront with her. But, what if didn't love her back ' could she live with her mortified pride. Or worse, without his friendship!!! Damini was determined that she would share her feeling in the next opportunity. Willing to risk everything for the love they both deserved.
The next morning, Ila Gujral told a shocked Damini that Prithvi had to pre-pone his departure as a sudden assignment had come up in his new job. Apparently, he had got a call late last night and taken the decision to leave immediately. He had rushed out at 3:30 am back to US, without even bidding her goodbye.
Damini knew better than to believe this story ' she knew Prithvi had left because of what happened between them the previous night. Prithvi Saxena had rejected her. He hadn't even given her and her love a chance.
...
So there...Sorry about this really rushed effort and such a late post. Throw whatever you can lay your hands on...I so deserve it
- Khushi
comment:
p_commentcount