Tarun sat in the lounge waiting for the boarding announcement, his eyes on his phone. He was contemplating about calling Kajal before boarding. The dinner date a day before had left him all the way more disturbed. He had enjoyed talking and teasing her, he realised he enjoyed riling her up. His heart thumbed at the fire in her brown orbs. 

He sighed recalling her smile, she looked beautiful yesterday night in that knee length yellow sleeveless dress. Like always she had kept her makeup minimal and her dark tresses lose. He smiled, she was the girl he had not found attractive before wedding and now it was just her who synonyme the word for him. She had agreed to dance with him and they had danced for long lost in each other, it was the manager who broke their bubble. She had pecked the corner of his lips when he had gone to drop her home, he just couldn't let her go.

''Its late Tarun, you should go. You have to pack.'' She said, her words not supporting her eyes. He was holding her close, his forehead leaned against hers. He just didn't wanted to let her go, ''I am sorry if this is annoying you but I don't know what's making me do this.''

''You are not annoying me Traun.''

''Then why do you ask me to leave.'' He whispered

''You have to travel tomorrow, you should get some rest.''

''My mind is at unrest, what rest I could get now.''

She cupped his cheek, ''Its just a month, it will fly away in a blink.''

''Then come with me.'' He didn't know why he said that, in that moment it just felt right.  She stared at him and then threw her arms around his neck, ''Tarun, I want you to think on what you feel and I will be waiting for your answer. may be next time , we go together for your project.'' 

The announcement bought him back to present,Tarun leaned back, his eyes on the ceiling. Past moment started playing in his mind, their first meet. Her cold attitude, the small tiff at the night and then her refusal. he closed his eyes and hers opened behind his closed ones. He perfect smile, her confidence. He smiled, just then the boarding announcement was being made.  Picking his laptop bag he made his way to the boarding gate, typing a message for his wife.

After the Pre-flight security demonstration, the flight took off. Tarun leaned back on his seat closing his eyes, his mind moving to Kajal again.  Suddenly his eyes flew open, his heart thumped. He had been questioning himself for long about why he married Kajal and not Sejal, he, realised he had always preferred Kajal. Something about her intrigued him, he looked out. It was dark . They somewhere in the middle of clouds, he  now desperately wanted to be back. He cursed himself for taking up the project. He made up his mind to call kajal first thing after landing

***

Moments spend with Tarun didn't allow Kajal to sleep, like him she too had twisted and turned on her bed whole night. She knew she was going to miss him. She picked her phone, there was a message from him, 'Boarding now, please wait for me.'  She smiled, she was going to even if he wouldn't ask. She had to submit her second set of designs, and she was thankful that the day was going to be busy, or else she would have lost her senses thinking about Tarun.

Quickly freshening up, she dressed up , picked her bag and made her way out of the house. She entered the the ravishing building of Enchanted, her second set was inspired from the range of folklore. It had a fusion of modern and regional patterns. She greeted the known faces with a smile moving towards the Robin's cabin. 

Her feet halted when she heard a celebrating crowd, curious she moved towards the celebrating group. Robin too stodd their clapping, ''What 's happening?''

''Hi there! Oh this, this is Mikhail and he just proposed Soniya. He have been in love with her for long, but she declined him because she loved someone else. But that guy who seemed be all in love and involved with her, left her as he found someone more beautiful than her. And then she was no more his type. Would you believe , she was even engaged to him. It had to happen, that guy left his first for her because she was prettier and now he settled for prettiest. Must say, world still needs to understand the real meaning of beauty.''

Kajal's heart paced, wasn't her life a little similar to Soniya. Would Tarun leave her if he finds someone better, someone more beautiful. She shook her head to get rid of these negative thoughts, ''The second set is ready.'' She interrupted the conversation.

''Wow! There are really exquisite . Do you think this can be used of light weight collection. I mean, for working females?''

"Yes, and  I have made a suggestion of using sterling sliver or go with 18 K gold in case you want to launch it as a fashion collection.

Robin nodded, his eyes on her face. He could make out that she was lost, ''Okay, when do I get to see the third set?''

''I am working on it, may in 2 weeks.''

''2 weeks! make it 3, you see Mikhail is planning his a destination wedding to celebrate his love. So I won't be available for sometime. '' He sighed and added, ''Its a  beautiful feeling to marry the one who loves you, Isn't it. The feeling of spending your life with someone who finds you perfect. That one person for whose eyes you are the best one. Love makes you feel beautiful and makes your life a dream.''

''dream is always a dream, reality is what one should think about.'' She retorted 

''Kajal, its good to be practical but there is no harm in dreaming about a beautiful love filled life.'' Robin kept his point

''What is the guarantee,  that love stays for life? Partners leave each other before and after wedding, though clamming to be head on heels in love.''

''It doesn't matter how long it lasts, the point is it happened. I would chose to live few seconds lost in love with my beloved than spending the life with someone who wouldn't have chosen me at all if given a chance.'' Robin smirked, a wave of pain passed through Kajal's expression but she was quick to find it . With little effort, he was able to find the reason of the split between her and her husband. She wasn't his choice, and now he was planning to exploit that emotion to the max.

''Well, all said and done, I know you don't agree with my theory of love as you had and arranged marriage and I am sure your husband is an amazing guy....'' She quickly got up, ''I should leave.'' He smiled once she walked out. Picking the intercom, he punched in an extension, ''Thanks for proposing Soniya as per my request. You did me a great favour.'' He recalled how he had set up the meeting with Kajal and had asked the receptionist at the main entrance to keep him informed f her arrival. He was aware the manipulation was wrong, but he was ready to play with her emotions to get her in his life.

''Fine, I had another assignment coming up. Let me know when you are free, we can discuss it as you know I am going to be a part of the celebration of my friend's upcoming love filled life.''

''I won't take any assignment for now, I need a break.'' With she walked off. Her mind clouded with thoughts, was she wrong in give Tarun a chance. She was aware about her not being his choice , then why  was he so hell bent on making the relationship work.

  ''It doesn't matter how long it lasts, the point is it happened. I would chose to live few seconds lost in loved with my beloved than spending the life with someone who wouldn't have chosen me at all if given a chance.''  

 She recalled all the moments since her wedding, not once Tarun held her hand or treated her like his romantic partner. She recalled, what he had said about taking their relationship forward, now all seemed to be an excuse to stay away from him. Her eyes watered realising he didn't find her worthy enough. 

'You are over thinking, don't you remember the dinner?'  reminded her rational mind. She thought over it, emotions started clouding the rationality,  and when the war is between heart and head, heart always wins. Even best of the humans tend to forget rationality and take up the negative route. Kajal did the same, her bruised heart answered'That all must be a show. He was known among his friends for being the best, he is just making me fall for him and then he will break my heart. Its the revenge he is taking from me for walking away and insulting him among his peers.'   She concluded the negative to be the truth, She forgot all the goodness Tarun had shown, she decided to be cold to him and again.

A loud honking bought her back, she lost control for a moment and was off the road. Kajal applied quick brakes, too shocked to have realised that she almost had an accident. She quickly moved out of the vehicle, all of her adult life she has never lost her control but today. Kajal fiercely wiped her wet face, ''Why did it happen with me? Wasn't I worthy enough to be the choice of the man I was being chosen for? Why do I have to wait for love after committing my life to one. Why am I being tested like that? ''

Kajal felt jealous of Soniya, she knew nothing about the girl yet the happiness Soniya wore when Mikhail pushed that ring into her finger like a promise was She wanted to cry her heart out, she wanted to an ultimatum to Tarun . She decided she would, she wasn't ready to wait for an answer. 

***

Tarun searched through his luggage frantically. He couldn't recall where he had left his phone. The last thing he remembered was staring at Kajal's picture, he held his head in his hands, he had kept his phone on the front pocket when cabin crew had served refreshments and had forgotten to take it back. He cursed under his breath, how would he contact Kajal now. He quickly pulled out his diary, he had written all the important numbers he needed in UK there. 

It took him 2 days to arrange a new phone, he dialled his parents and informed them about the reason for not calling. After few minutes he requested, ''Mom, can you please share Kajal's number . I haven't spoken to her since I landed.''

''Okay, so the call was to get in touch with Kajal.'' Devyani teased 

''Mom, please will you give her number to me.'' He pleaded. Devyani heard fear in his voice, she smiled for her it was a good sign. She gave him the number , they chatted for some more time before he disconnected. 

Tarun quickly dialled Kajal's number bet it went unanswered. He panicked and called again, this time she did, ''Where were you? I have been trying you for so long''

Kajal took a minute to realise it was Tarun, ''Really? After 2 days you realised that you should be telling me about your whereabouts.'' She shot back angrily, her emotions pent up due to the her situations and doubts 

''Sorry! I should have called earlier, I lost my phone.''

Kajal's anger melted at his polite voice, ''I am sorry too, I shouldn't have yelled at you.''

''Its okay, its your marriage right.'' She smiled, and lost it immediately. The word marriage reminded her of her state, she was married yet living at her parents place because she wasn't his choice. Her annoyance mounted , ''Tarun, I am tired. Can we talk later.''

''Sure, but call me.''

''Why? Why should I call Tarun ? What do we have to talk ? You will tell me about your work and ask about mine, what after that?''

''What's wrong?'' he asked worried. There was something which had changed in two days.

''wrong! Our marriage was wrong Tarun, it shouldn't have happened. I should have heard those warnings my head threw at me. But I trusted you, now I am repenting. Now, even my parents are suffering. Relatives and neighbour are asking why is their married daughter back.''

Traun was quite, he understood something had happened which had stirred Kajal's emotions bad. All he could do now was calm her for now, ''Kajal...I am sorry you have to repent. I am sorry you had to suffer because of me. Just this one month, after this one month I will either answer you or set you free.'' He disconnected, wiping the wetness of his face. She sat  frozen at her place, explaining herself she wasn't wrong. But she knew she was, he meant more than she thought. Burying her face into the pillow she broke down, the night was going to be long and painful for her.

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What do you think will happen next?

Do vote and comment . Would love to know your feelings , many of you would find Kajal wrong today just see her as a human whose emotions are on peak. we all can be good and bad at times.

Happy sunday :D