Chaits now knew that contacting Anjali was within his reach. She had attended Tanvi’s engagement ceremony. Tanvi knew her by name. He decided to wait patiently for Tanvi to gather information.
Tanvi called him and told him that she and Guru will meet him at Rustomjee’s on Saturday around 3pm. He was a bit disappointed. She hadn’t mentioned anything about Anjali tough he hoped that she would have some positive information about her.
With racing heartbeats his car raced on Staurday to Rustomjee’s. He was surprised to see Guru already sitting there, waiting for him.
“Where’s Tanvi?”
“Oh! Now she’s become more important to you than your best friend who you call your brother, eh?”
“No brother – please understand. She’s supposed to get some valid news about Anjali. That’s what she had promised…”
“Oh! I see…” Guru remarked slyly. He looked at Chaits, mischief in his eyes, “Oh! I see… This means if Tanvi is able to perform some magic and make Anjali fall in love with you… You’ll forget ME… Your brother and maybe Tanvi as well… It’ll be Anjali and only Anjali in your life…”
“How can you say this?” Chaits asked indignantly, “Nobody’s gonna take your place – you’ll always be my brother and Tanvi – she’s my FOSTER MOM – the respect and affection I have for her will stay forever…”
“O.M.G.” Guru said in wonder, “This means I already have a grown up kid – even before I marry Tanvi…” and started to laugh.
“I’m not your kid.”
“If Tanvi is your MOM – then I, her husband has to be your father right”
“Ok – My DAD – could you please shut up and quit teasing me? I’d be happier if you call Tanvi and let me know when she’s expected – after all – a GOOD DAD always strives for his child’s happiness…”
Chaits was trying to hide his rising excitement trying to use his natural wit and he knew – he was failing – miserably.
His phone rang. He missed and odd heartbeat when he realized Tanvi was calling him. He was confused as to why would Tanvi call him and not Guru and she knew that they both would be together at Rustomjee’s. Thousands of thoughts and emotions raced through his mind even as he answered her call…
“Chaits!” she said in a hurried and a mysterious tone, “I’m outside Rustomjee’s. I want to talk to you and want to talk to you – alone… come out of the side exit.”
‘Now, what?’ Chaits started thinking in a dilemmatic mood, ‘Why does she want to speak to me alone? Why not in front of Guru? Is she looking for some information she thinks Guru is hiding from her? Should I follow what she said or should I inform Guru of her request to meet me alone?’
He thought of options for a moment and looked at Guru – informed him what Tanvi had asked him to do. Guru looked at Chaits calm, calculated expression and guessed that she may have some breaking news for him and didn’t want to break it out when they both were together – perhaps – she wasn’t confident of handling their reaction together. The news about Anjali could be positive – or maybe negative… he asked Chaits to go ahead and meet her as she had instructed.
He got out of his chair and started making his way to the exit – feverishly praying that she had some positive news about Anjali…
Tanvi waived him to follow her and led him to a bench on the pathway next to Rustomjee’s and waived him to sit. She sat keeping a distance between them and looked at him to see his expression full of anticipation and his face flushed with rising heartbeats.
“I got news of Anjali for you…” she said in a tone that didn’t have any excitement and his heart started sinking – he must have lost his chance…
‘The news is…” she paused looking at the variety of expressions changing on his face, from expectation to dejection and back, she couldn’t hold her poise any further and burst out laughing uncontrollably. She shifted closer to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“Relax bro…” she said still trying to control her laughter, “I met Anjali. She’s my first cousin. She always was and still is a shy girl.”
She was trying hard to control the fit of her laughter again looking at changing expression as she continued, “She’s not like me who will think logical and hear what the heart says. Being a shy girl, she immediately jumps to conclusion… The good news is – she’s yet unmarried, no boyfriend, stays within her room. Her parents are looking for a suitable groom and…” she burst out laughing at changing variety of expressions on Chaits according to the change of feelings within him.
“And what – Tanvi?” he almost screamed at her in his excitement which made her go in another fit of uncontrolled laughter… “Stop laughing Tanvi. Please tell me…” he was now almost on his knees, begging…
“OK… OK…” she said trying to control her laughter, “I met her and told her in all possible words as to how wonderfully my foster son is suitable for her…” she paused as she experienced another fit of laughter.
“For GOD’s sake, Tanvi, please stop laughing and tell me everything – you can laugh away as much as you want after that…”
With difficulty, she controlled her fit of laughter and spoke with a serious tone, “Now listen – I have been able to convince her to meet you and that, you’re the perfect guy for her and on my request, she’s agreed to meet you. As I said earlier, she’s a shy girl and won’t speak out but will instantly jump to conclusion. It’ll be your only chance to impress her. Please do not make a flop show of this opportunity the way you had when you met her at your college… All the best – my prayers will be with you…”
She allowed some time for him to digest what she had said. She got up holding his trembling hand and patted it fondly, “I know my darling kid will not fail his Mom – Now – let’s go back and meet Guru and tell him …” she pulled him out of the bench they had been occupying.
They entered Rustomjee’s to join Guru. They saw him … some other girl had joined him on the table and she was sitting diagonally opposite to him. It was a full house at Rustomjee’s and no other table was vacant. Maybe, the girl must have requested Guru to allow her to occupy the chair till one of the tables was vacant.
He and Tanvi exchanged glances for a moment as they walked toward Guru. She grabbed the chair opposite Guru, next to the girl and Chaits sat next to him opposite to the girl who occupied the chair on their table. Guru was eyeing him for any reaction. Chaits showed him thumbs up sign and smiled at Guru as he casually looked at the girl sitting opposite to him. His hear almost stopped beating – she was Anjali…
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- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/