Kajal chose a knee length sleeveless A line dress for Robin's party. She checked her appearance in the mirror once before walking out. ''By what time you will be back.'' Her mother asked

''I will just stay there for an hour.'' She replied looking at her watch

The place wasn't far from her house. She had even celebrated her birthday with her friends. She smiled at the memory, she still remembered how Tarun had startled her in the parking. Kajal shook her head, off lately all her thoughts were running back to Tarun eveeytime. She pressed her lips to control the dreamy smile that waited to stretch on her lips. She was looking forward to Praveen's engagement party next week, she had decided to give him a chance and wanted to give her 100 percent to the effort.

''Welcome Kajal!'' Robin greeted Kajal with over excitement , making her frown. He led her to party area placing his palm on the small of her back. She removed it instantly, ''I don't prefer that Robin.'' She made it very clear with her piercing gaze. Robin lifted his palms in apology, gesturing her towards the area reserved for the party. 'This is what I love most about you, you never pretend' Robin thought, smiling to himself.

Kajal walked off swiftly, she greeted the familiar faces with a heart warming smile. ''I didn't get the occasion for the party.'' She questioned the people around

''So did we! Who cares, if I get to party.'' Replied one of the girls, she already was high on drinks.

''Robin, will you answer that?'' She looked straight at him. He smiled , picked up his drink and walked slowly in her direction, his eyes locked with her. He took the chair next to her making her flinch. Sometjing about his body languange was making her uncomfortable , ''Just say that I am too happy.'' He said with a dreamy smile.

''About what?'' That came collective from everyone

''I was in love with a girl for past two years but couldn't gather the strength to confess. Then I lost her, I was devastated. Few days back, I realised it was just a bad dream I still had a chance to win her.''

The people around him applauded and gave him their best wishes, ''So, I would like to know your opinion about me,all of you.'' Kajal shook her head, as one by one everybody started singing heaps of praises in support of Robin and why not, they worked for him. They were bound to keep him happy. She suddenly found Robin too stupid to be her friend, she wanted to laugh on his trick was public applaud.

''Your turn Kajal.'' Robin pointed out

She kept her glass down, ''Well, I just know you as business associate. So I am going to mark you on that. '' Robin's face fell. After a minute she added, ''You are a sharp business man who knows how to get his profit. But you at times forget that not whole world is working under you. In my opinion you should refrain from commenting on people's person decision and lives.'' Her statement bought pin drop silence, only few sounds from people could be hears who were trying to draw their drinks from empty glasses using at straw.

''Do you think I can be a good husband?'' Robin asked straight

''I am no one to comment on that. As a generalized opinion, falling in love and loving in marriage are two different things. '' She replied without a trace of fear.

''That's what I like about you, just plain honest.'' Robin tried to appear relaxed, he wasn't. He had plans to impress her with his qualities and popularity but his trick fell flat on face.

''So, when are you proposing her?'' Asked one of his female subordinate.

''The day she gets rid of the shit in her life, I am waiting and hoping it to happen soon.'' He replied, his teeth clenched and eyes on Kajal. That sentence made Kajal look at him, he quickly averted his gaze. She didn't like the tone of it, ''You should be sure about her feelings too. I guess right time for the party would have been when you invited us with her.''

Robin wanted to reply, but they were being interrupted by a voice, ''Hey Kajal, what are you doing here ?''

Kajal looked, she couldn't help but smile at the one standing opposite to her. In fact she was happy being rescued from this gathering which had started suffocating her.

***

Tarun couldn't focus since Kajal told him about working with Robin again. He had the idea what Robin thought about Kajal. He punched his table making his colleagues turn. Tarun apologised, he quickly left to get some fresh air. His mind was going back to Kajal again and again. What if she decides to give Robin a chance? What if she finds Robin better  than him? What will he do if Robin proves himself worthy?

Traun pulled his hairs, he didn't wanted all this to happen. 'Why am I feeling all this? Why am I so scared? May be because I value this relationship of ours. This marriage means to me a lot, but does it mean anything to Kajal? She has already walked out on me once, she doesn't trust me. I am definetly on the losing end.'

Placing his palms on the railing of the balcony, he dropped his head feeling dejected. ''Are you fine?'' Praveen asked. He had been noticing Tarun's disturbed form for long.

''yeah! Personal stuff.'' Tarun just kept it brief. He didn't wanted to sound needy to Praveen. He didn't wanted his child hood friend to think more negative about him. Praveen watched Traun for a minute, he had known him since they were kids. Tarun didn't know how to hide things, he was a bad liar. Taking a step, he grabbed Tarun's arm turning him around, ''Out with it.''

''Its personal.''

''I will punch that handsome face of yours if you stood by that drama for long. What's wrong?''

''I feel I am losing Kajal''Tarun confessed his fears

''You lost her in Goa. What's new?''

''No, she agreed to give me a chance. She asked me a question and I am looking for answer but somehow I feel, before I answer her she will give on us.''

''What's the question?''

''Why should we stay in this marriage? Why did I marry her?''

''To escape that witch Sejal. Tell her the  truth.'' Praveen with a smirk. Tarun gave him a single glance, ''Congratulations on your engagement.'' With that he walked off. Praveen shook his head, pulling out his phone he dialled Kajal. When she didn't answer he took her parent's number form Devyani. From them he got to know her whereabouts.

Praveen smiled at Kajal, who looked relieved finding him there. She quickly got up, ''Hi Praveen! Guys meet Praveen, my husband's childhood friend and now mine too.''

Praveen waved at all before turning to Kajal, ''You promised to help me with shopping of my engagement. I have been calling you for so long.''

Kajal made a face all confused, but played along when Robin was about to interrupt. ''I am sorry, I forgot. We can go now. I am done here.''

''What about the party?'' Robin asked agitated

''It goes on, it wasn't just for me or was it?'' Kajal asked. Robin silence and expression made her frown. She quickly grabbed her bag and followed Praveen out.

''I never asked what were you doing here?'' She asked Praveen

''I wanted to apologise for the other day. You were right, I thought I would never miss Tarun but I did, a lot. He is a part of me.'' Praveen confessed

''You came to apologise , here?''

''No, your husband is panicking about something. Trust me, I have never seen fear in Tarun's eyes. he lives every moment without caring about gaining or losing, but these days all I see is a fear of losing something important.''

''And you believe its me?'' She mocked

''I know its you. Kajal I know he makes mistakes, never says the right thing on the right time. Still he is one of a kind. Give him some time, my friend is confused but he will sought things out.'' 

Kajal's heart skipped a beat.She wanted to run into Tarun's arms and end their ordeal. She knew a moment of weakness might result in life long regret. She did believe Praveen but she wanted the answer from Tarun, in person and when he was ready to look into her eyes . She wanted the heartfelt confession. "You are a good friend Praveen,  but there are things which only Tarun will have to do."

"I know and he will. He isn't  even  aware of me meeting you. I came because I care, he is my friend .My best friend." Kajal smiled, Praveen added, "by the way, I have left an invitation on Tarun's desk. Are you coming now? "

" I am! Tarun has already asked me even before  you invited him." Praveen smiled, he walked her to her car , before leaving he added, ''Kajal, Traun isn't those macho possessive hero from the romance novels. He is a gentle guy. ''

''I know he isn't but when is comes to wife the most gentle turn fierce. I want to know if he would for me.''

''If that happens, I am going to record it.'' Praveen declared , they shared a laugh. He drove off once her car vanished from his sight. 

***

Praveen waked back to his bay to collect his belongings as he had forgotten in hurry to see Kajal , his eyes on his friend who seemed all lost. He checked his watch, it was already half past 8 in the evening. He smiled aware of the reason, walking to Tarun he leaned on to his bay, ''feeling better?''

''I am fine! There is nothing wrong with me.'' Tarun pretended being busy.

''Sorry!'' Praveen apologised. Tarun looked up, ''for what?''

''I was rude. I was wrong in blaming you for Sejal's deeds, I am capable enough to stand for myself.''

''No, its not your fault. I am too weak as a man.'' Tarun said, his head hung low. Praveen lifted Tarun's chin dramatically, ''You are just gentle. I agree you made mistakes, now try and amend them as soon as possible. So are you coming for my engagement.''

''I would have even if you wouldn't have invited me.'' Tarun replied with a smile.

''Tarun, what is that which is making you hang on to this relationship?'' Praveen asked

''Its marriage, I promised her my whole life''

''You did! One of the promises were to keep her honour, you couldn't do it in presence of your friends.  If you respect this life long commitment, you need to understand her needs to.''

''What should I do?''

''How would I know?''

''Then whom should I ask?'' Tarun asked

Praveen banged his head, ''What do you feel for Kajal. Think and reply.'' Traun kept thinking, his heart threw hints but his mind ignored. He couldn't understand the weird  sensation that racked his body . He had never felt it before and didn't know how to define it, ''I don't know.''

Praveen shook his head, ''Fine, what is that you love about Kajal.''

''She is honest. Straightforward, smart, down to earth. She is strong and doesn't need anyone to stand for her, above all she just what she is. She never wears a mask of goodness or pretends....'' Praveen covered Tarun's mouth to stop the flow of words, ''Enough, now tell me why do you want to be with her.''

''Because we are married''

Praveen wanted to break Tarun's head, ''My dear friend, you need some kind of enlightenment. I don't know how and when it will happen. But the day it happens, you will know your true feelings for your wife. All I can do is hope it happens soon. '' He dramatically placed a peck on Tarun's head before walking off. Tarun rubbed his forehead making a face.

As the day at work got over, Tarun drove to his apartment lost in his own thoughts. Praveen's questions kept ringing his head again and again. Yet he failed to answer the reason of this turmoil in his heart. He took a right and kept driving without realising he was driving in Kajal's house direction. By the time he realised, he was already outside her house. He decided to drove of quickly to be caught by her father, ''Hey Son! How are you?''

''I am good Uncle. How are you?'' Tarun greeted Kajal's father 

''You are here to see Kajal.''

Now caught he decided to play along, ''Yes, we have to attend an engagement party and I wanted her advice on buying the gift for the couple.'' 

''Oh that's great but she isn't home. Today seems to be a party day for her, evening she had gone to Robin's party and just few minutes back her childhood friend visited dragging her for a dinner.'' Tarun turned deaf, he couldn't hear anything what Arun said after Robin's party. His fears started surfacing, he was a guy and knew how another guy's mind functioned. Taking his leave, he quickly drove off. 'I won't let you lure her Robin, she is good but you aren't good for her.'

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Next-Praveen's engagement. tarun's first positive step to his wife.

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