DG PLEX

Widening her eyes,she turns back to see Adhvik.She gulps.

"Uss room mein yeh nai hona chahiye.Please god."

She is wishing in mind without responding to him when he asks,

"Nai sunai de rai?",his voice is calm but  stern.

She first nods no then yes then she closes her eyes thinking what is she even doing, in embarrassment.

Composing herself,she opens her eyes & replies to his first question, "I came with Nandu."

Of course. Why would she be here then?

He humms when his eyes catch her attire.

She is wearing lime tank top with long dark blue skirt and blue duppatta, wrapped around her neck.Her hair is free with a little puff,the blue earrings and her watch are matching to her dress.

He sighs in disapproval, "Issko pata nai kaha kya pehenthe."

No wonder everyone in the conference hall got distracted especially the one who's presenting.

Meanwhile, Teja looks at Arshad, standing behind Karan & who's already looking at her fully vexed.

She asks him about Karan by signing him through her eyes, "He is in that room?"

Arshad doesn't respond but his annoyed expression is enough for her to know the answer.

She closes her tightly scolding herself, "Shit Bunny. Before he starts his stupid questionnaire... escape"

Choosing it to be the only way, she takes a step aside to pass them excusing herself when she hears him & stops.

"This is a workplace where everyone here will be in formal wears."

She did not understand what he is saying.Why is he telling her that?

Understanding her confused expression, he vocalises clearly,

"Aise dresses pehenke office nai athe",his voice is low & eyes are on her attire.

And she didn't like it.

Firstly,she didn't forgive him for the slap she just forgot about it because somewhere her actions are also responsible for that. Henceforth, she doesn't wanna have unnecessary interactions with him but him commenting about her dress isn't acceptable.

At once, her defensive self changes as she retorts firmly, looking at him in the eye,

"Employees follow the dress code.I am just a guest & I don't think dress code is implied to guests also or is it?"

While he clarifies it in a cool manner,

"You're mistaken.I am not asking you to follow the dress code I was saying you to wear according to the place you go & rest...(putting a palm in his pocket) is your choice"

"Right", glaring him she folds her arms,"Atlast it's my choice."

Her firm voice & spirits didn't sit well with Adhvik.

He's ready to give back when they hear Nandu's soft voice,"Bhai"

They both turn their heads only to see her anxious.

Adhvik in a step reaches her, "Kya hua?"

His voice is caring & his sterness disappeared in a second.

Nandu raise her eyes to look at her brother whose eyes are concerned.

"Ma ne call kiya",she begins,"Navratri Puja ke baare mein bola tha"

Adhvik breathes slowly listening her. Yes,he knew about the whole thing & that's the reason he called her here to inform & assure her but guess he's late a bit.

"I don't want this Bhai", Nandu seemed like she would cry in a second.

If not for Karan, her tears would have already leave her eyes but she's holding onto her dear brother. He would make everything alright.

Teja couldn't see her like that though she didn't knew what exactly the matter is but she got a hint.

"Ayy",holding her hand, Teja cups her face from a side,"Jo bhi hein ham saath mein face karlenge.Thu kabhi akela nai hoga Nandu mein hu tere saath.Hamesha rahungi"

A tiny drop fall from Nandu's eyes but a smile steals her lips seeing her best friend's gesture.

If she could completely rely on anybody other than Adhvik, then it would be Teju. Her bunny.

Nandu hugs Teja feeling relieved that atleast she has people who understands her & never leave her.

Teja hugs her back providing her the support & strength through her warmth.

While Adhvik & Arshad becomes spectators of the scene, one in surprise & later with a smile.

Since an year, his sister is going through all this alone but how come he didn't notice? What was he doing?

Though, he took hold of the matter he knew what she's worrying about.

Time.

As time passes, the alliance is getting rigid which she doesn't want.

It's already late & anymore delay would cost them so much.

He peers at Nandu, who's hugging Teja tightly & the latter comforting her, actually more than comfort, he felt like Teja is strengthening her.

While he was busy, she's there for Nandu all this while?! Her?

He didn't understand whether to put question mark or exclamatory for his sentence.

Stupified, he keeps peering at them when Arshad suggests, "Sir, we should go inside your cabin. It's office ending hours."

His poise return as he walk towards them & calls her.

Nandu turns to Adhvik coming out of the hug from her friend. The whole thing is distressing & bothersome for her & he could see it on her face.

"I am right before you then why are you bothered?",he asks her smoothly, wiping the lone tear.

"There's nothing for you to feel sad.This Dussehra will be the last time you are going to see them.", her eyes are widened in perplex & he soothingly holds her from a side.

"That's the reason I even called you here.Meet them just one more time Nandu and they will be out of your sight.", he's certain while his next words shake her up" And also  nobody will enter your life unless you want them to.I will make sure of it."

Her wide eyes brighten up.

Not just this alliance but she doesn't want to get into these relations atleast for next few years. Her age and her mind is telling her repeatedly that she isn't ready for the big step. She has dreams and wants to enliven them without anything or anyone pulling her back.

And her brother understood her root concern, at once, she felt like a feather rather a mountain. 

She embraces him and that made her even more light hearted.

Adhvik holds her tenderly & the other two, sees them with a slight smile on their lips.

Nandu comes out of the embrace and gratefully sees him & he soothes her cheek.

"Yeh batao do you have dress for the Navratri Night?",he queries to divert her mind & it did.

"Nai.", she remembers about the call,"Actually Ma ne yeh bhi bataya ki Sabyasachi ke pass Jake outfits try karlo. She has made them design some dresses for Bunny & me."

Before Adhvik responds, Teja shrieks,"Me? But why?"

"Why matlab? Aren't you attending the Night?", Teja divert her eyes for Nandu's question which gives away.

"Don't tell me Bunny you are skipping this year also",Nandu faces her with a frown & that's the indication for the beginning of her anger.

"No..No",Teja is ready to be Nandu interrupts Teja's not so true denial.

"Pichle theen saal se dekh rahi hu kuch na kuch bolke skip kar rahi hein thu.Par iss saal nai.Thu aa rai hein & that's all!"

"But..." Teja drops her voice as she gets stopped by Nandu again.

"Shut up & make your lazy legs walk.We are leaving for outfit selection."

Nandana declares & Teja glances at Adhvik, then Arshad, everyone seeing her in inquisition and she nods ok in helplessness.

"Good",Nandu turns to Adhvik, "It's already 5:30.We will leave now Bhai."

"I will drop you till the car.", Adhvik joins them.

The three go down the gallery way to the elevator.It takes them to the ground floor and they walk to the parking lot.All the while he observes many men taking a glance at the girls.

"She's attracting a lot of unnecessary attention for Nandu.Pch!"

He's annoyed but didn't forget to give a serious look to all the men there.

As they reach her Martin,

"Yeh le", Nandu opens the palm showing the keys to Teja whose face get lightened.

Otherwise, she's being all gloomy & down and Nandu can't see her like that anymore.

Before Teja catch hold of the keys, Adhvik takes them.

"I will drive you", walking around the car, he get to the driving seat while the two girls stand there staring him in surprise, maybe shock.

His sister comes forward conveying, "Bhai, that's ok. I'm all fine. We will manage. Don't trouble yourself please."

By that time, he has already ignited the engine, "You're still a kid Cadbury to manage everything.", he smiles looking at her like a child, "Get in"

With a light smile, Nandu walks to the front door when Adhvik sees his Secretary and Teja just standing there.

"Invitation chahiye aap logon ko?", Teja rolls her eyes at his sarcasm and ambles to the car settling at the back seat.

She yells for Arshad, "Harsh come sit with me"

Her voice is little bit loud & her smile is so wide that she could irritate him to no ends.

While Arshad suddenly feels low.

"No way! She will eat my brain like breakfast and I won't even be able to do anything.",he lightly gulps & thereby  decides to follow them in his car & is about to inform the same when he hears Adhvik's instruction.

"Khan get inside. Nandu you go back"

Feeling so better, he sits beside his boss & the girls settle behind.

Teja felt like she missed out on a chance but smiles when she thought where would he go.

While they are putting their seat belts, Teja leans forward getting closer to Arshad's seat & whispers,"You got saved.But not next time"

Giggling,she gets back to her's preparing to enjoy the ride when Nandu pleas, "Don't take trouble Bhai. I am absolutely fine. We can manage."

She doesn't want Adhvik to worry about her but his reply is unexpected to the remaining three.

"I can't leave you with another kid Nandu", it's a jibe at someone who snaps her head at him.

Nandu widen her eyes amazed and Arshad smirks.

"Isiliye tho hamare saath do do kindergarten teachers aa rahe", Teja counters with a nice smile recieving square glance from Adhvik through the rear mirrors.

Nandu cackles & Arshad adjusts straight in his seat sighing to himself, "Yeh nai sudhregi", he turns to the window not knowing what to do. It's a counter on his boss & himself also but that's a good one.

After 30 mins,they are at the Sabyasachi  choosing the outfits while the men wait for them in the exclusive lounge checking their mails.

When they hear some loud voices, they go inside only to see them pulling a lehenga from either sides.

"I am taking this"

"No.I am"

"In ur dreams"

"In my reality"

"I first saw this"

"I took it first"

"Thum dono apni bachi wali harikathe apni paas rakhogi?"

Shocked, they both look aside to see Adhvik glaring at them.

"Mein bachi nai hu", they both say at the same time & points at each other, "Yeh hein"

"Dikh raha hein", Arshad mumbles to himself.

Taking this diversion as an opportunity, Teja pulls the dress with more force off guarding Nandu.

"This is cheating",Nandu shouts in shock.

"Nah this is snatching.Haha!", Teja corrects her, placing the dress on her & seeing herself in the mirrors.

"Kinni pretty lag rahi hein.Right Nandu?",Teja makes sure she's rubbing on her wounds recieving glares from Nandu.

"Dress pretty hein. Tere upar nai lagri", her best friend points out.

"Kuch bhi."

"Mein sach keh rahi hu.Thu pale aur bhi patli lag rahi hein Bunny.Tujhe suit hi nai kar rahi hein.", What Nandu said is true. Though the design is good, it didn't look on Teja but she wouldn't listen to her.

"Nah. This suits me.", Teja ponders looking at it again so decides to take opinion of the designer there who's helping them out, "Let's ask him."

With a smile, the guy compliments gazing her but not the dress, "It's beautiful Mam. Just like you"

And Nandu caught his deed , "He's lying Bunny. This really doesn't suit you. Believe me."

She expresses desperately and giving a angry glance at that guy.

Teja contemplates her choice when she heard Adhvik,"She's right.",he peers at the dress & her,"This isn't for you."

That's when she takes the decision by handing the outfit to the guy there, "This is for me"

"My shopping is over Nandu. You better do it fast. I have to go by 7", saying she moves out with the guy for fitting while the bro & sis stare at her.

"Par wo achi nai lag rahi hein uspe.And I really like that one.", Nandu speaks out in a low voice.

"You will get what you want",Adhvik says with certainty while Nandu doesn't actually mind what he said.

All four are in the alteration counter for their further inputs and right measurements.

Later, they were told that the outfits will be delivered directly at their home after a day that is on the Navaratri Night.

As Arshad finishes the payment, the four amble to their car,

"Appa is on the way to pick me.I have a family date tonight.Bye Nandu. Don't be so sad about the dress", Teja mocks her only to receive a glare from Nandu.

Stomping, Nandu gets inside the car and Teja laughs at the sight when she hears him saying,"Deserve & desire."

Without glancing at her, Adhvik also get inside the car & they zoom out in a second leaving her confused.

Picture abhi baaki hein mera dosth...