The Journey

Nikhil has arranged a car and now we're going to Mumbai. It's 4 pm now, so by 11 pm I can reach Mumbai. I decided to call my father and tell him that I'm going to Mumbai with Nikhil. So, I excused from Nikhil and called my dad.

"Hey princess, have you reached Mumbai"

"No dad, actually due to weather conditions in Mumbai, we couldn't go to Mumbai. So, our flight landed in Ahmedabad. I've waited for 5 hours, but still they didn't reschedule the flight."

"Oh, then what do you want to do?"

"You remember, two days back in that party you've introduced Nikhil Ahuja"

"Yeah, I do remember."

"He's also in the same flight. He was sitting beside me and we became nice friends. So, now we're going to Mumbai by his car."

"Okay cool, but after reaching Mumbai ask Veer to come and pick you. Even though you can manage, ask him to pick you or else I'll tell him."

"Even I've decided to ask him to pick me up because by the time we reach Mumbai, it'll be very late. Don't worry and I'll call you once I reach Mumbai. You have Nikhil's number right?"

"Yes, I've his number but please don't tell me that your battery is low"

"Unfortunately, yes dad"

"You'll never change. Okay I'll call him, if your number is not available."

"Okay bye, love you"

"Bye and love you too."

I cut the call and turned towards Nikhil and smiled. And his phone started ringing, it must be my Dad. Nikhil removed his phone from his pocket and saw who's calling. Then he showed me his phone saying "it's your dad." He answered the call and put it on speaker.

"Hello Nikhil"

"Hello Uncle, how are you?"

"I'm fine, I just called to tell you that my daughter is very stubborn and sometimes it'll be very difficult to handle. And she likes to do things on her own and never listens to anyone. I still wonder that she agreed to go with you. That itself shows that you can handle her but still if she does something please don't mind her"

"No worries uncle, I'll manage. And I'll call you in between and update if it's not a problem for you"

"No, I don't have a problem. But if you cannot call, even a text would do because her phone will be switched off and it will be very helpful"

"Okay uncle, bye"

"Bye and take care"

He cut the call and started laughing out loud and I was glaring him. Then he said, "Your father itself told you're stubborn and very difficult to handle"

I pouted and said, "That's because, I like to do things on my own and don't want to trouble others. Only in Veer's case it's different, I'll order him to do things for me and he happily does that" and I smiled remembering him.

He asked, "From morning I've been hearing about Veer, who's he? tell me about him"

I smiled and said, "He's name is Rajveer Singh and I call him Veer. He's father is Ranvijay singh, RV constructions owner. I think you might know his father." He replied, "Yes, I know him and also heard that he's not in to business"

I nodded my head and said, "Yes, he's a doctor by profession. But attends meetings if necessary and manages business also in uncle's absence. He's my best friend since childhood. He's like my shadow and he knows me in and out. Till date we are always together, even though we both are in different fields, we were always together. I'm going to Mumbai for him only. Tomorrow is he's mother's birthday, we always celebrate her birthday and spend the whole day in orphange. But this time, as uncle is not there in India, he had to come to Mumbai and got stuck there. So, I'm going to him. Tomorrow will be very painful day for him, so I don't want him to be alone."

He replied, "That's so sweet of you." I cut him off and said, "That's the least I could do for him, for all he has done for him. I'm not doing this out of gratitude, but I've seen him suffering without aunty and how lost he was when aunty left him. He'll be very vulnerable on that day, so I want to be with him. He's so important to me and I'll do anything for him." I stopper as I realized I was blabbering about Veer seeing his expression. I said, "I think I've to stop now, I'm consuming your time with my silly banter."

He said, "Hey, it's nothing like that. It was me who asked you about him right? then why would I think otherwise? But I've a question, did you guys never felt something for each other. I mean after hearing you, it's clear that your both worlds are same. So, how come you guys haven't fallen in love"

I chuckled and said, "Who said we don't love each other?" I can see the disappointment in his face but I chose to ignore and continued, "We both love each other, but as friends. Many thought that we're lovers and many asked the same question you have asked. But we're not lovers, we've never seen each other in that perspective. We'll always be friends. Just friends."

He continued asking, "It's not there from your side, but maybe it can be from his side right?" I replied, "No, I can gurantee from his side also. Because I know him, there was never such thing from his side and will never be."

He again asked, "What will you do if he propose in future?" I replied, "He'll not but if he does then may be I'd give it a try" and laughed out loudly. I then said,"Let's stop talking about Veer. We'll do something else. I'm getting bored"

He asked, "What do you want to do?" I thought for a while and asked, "Do you have charging on your phone?" he nodded as yes. I asked him, "Do you have Ludo game in your mobile?"

He narrowed his eye brows and asked, "No, I don't but why are you asking?" I replied, "If it's not there, then we can install it from appstore and then play. I love Ludo, Veer and I used to play a lot when we were in US." He said,"okay" and then I installed it in his phone and we started playing Ludo. We played 2 matches and I won in both of them. Then later he had to attend a conference call, so we stopped playing. He was on call and I didn't know what to do. So, I opened my sketch book and started sketching. I usually do sketching whenever I'm free. And then I don't know when I fell asleep.

I woke up when someone patted on my shoulder, when I opened my eyes I realized I was sleeping on his shoulder. I said, "I'm sorry, I slept on your shoulder. Is it hurting?" and started pressing his shoulder. He said, "No, it's not hurting. I'm fine. I woke you up because we're just 2 kms away from Mumbai. Your father called me just now. I told him that you slept. He told me to wake you up and ask you to inform Veer that you're in Mumbai"

I smiled and replied, "Oh yeah, thanks for reminding. I don't know what must be he doing? Can I please borrow your phone?" He gave me his phone, I dialed Veer's number and he answered after calling him twice.

"Hey, who's this?" (in sleepy voice)

"Veer you slept already?"

and then saw the time, it was 11.45 pm. Then I realized he must be tired and slept early.

"Misti why are you calling me now?"

"Veer get up, I'm in Mumbai. Come and pick me, I'll send you the address."

Then he woke up fully and asked

"What...? you're in Mumbai? how did you come? are you coming alone? I know you'll come alone. Yaar Misthi what is this stupidity? Why are you travelling alone in this night?"

I got irritated with his questions and then shouted

"Veer shut your mouth and listen to me. I'm not alone, I'm coming with my friend and dad knows about this. You just come and pick me, then I'll tell you full details."

"With whom are you coming?"

"You don't know him, I'll introduce you when you come here but for now get ready and come to pick me. Bye"

And cut the call.

Nikhil asked me, "I'll drop you wherever you say but where are you going to stay tonight?"

I replied, "No need, you just send him the address where you're going to stay. Veer will come and pick me. And I'll be staying at Veer's place, they have a pent house here. Where are you going to stay?"

He said, "I'll stay at my friend's house."

I smiled and said, "Oh cool, send him the address he'll be there."

Veer must be very angry and top of it he don't know Nikhil. I just hope that he doesn't say anything to Nikhil. After knowing him for years, I know he'll not like when he gets to know that I came with him in his car. He doesn't believe anyone when it comes to me. Unless and until he himself confirms they are harmless, he doesn't let me to talk with them. As he was busy in meetings, I couldn't tell him about Nikhil. Have to see, how will he react?