Satranga Ishq

iii.

" How's life going on? " they asked simultaneously.

" Good "

" Yeah " they answered simultaneous too.

Tara broke into a laugh, the one that made his face shine with happiness. Abhimanyu joined her, while Parth stared at them weirdly.

" I'm so glad you came, Tara. I've come only in the hope of meeting you. " he averted his gaze, blushing.

" Oh " she felt at the loss of words, then changed the topic, " My goodness, is Mr. Ever-so-serious Sanghvi blushing? "

Abhimanyu looked up, a different gleam in his eyes, " Time change, people change. "

When Tara didn't say anything, he continued, " Let's sit somewhere comfortably. We've a lot to catch up on. "

•

" So, an army? " Tara leaned on her elbows.

" An ex-army officer, apparently. " he rubbed the back of his neck. Tara wanted to pull his cheeks for behaving so awkwardly-cute, " I took a voluntary retirement. "

" Why? Wasn't it your like, bachpan ka sapna? Why did you quit? " 

" Quit nahin kiya maine. " he snapped at her, but upon realising his tone, he apologized, He'll not let his past ruin this moment between them, " I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. It's a subject, talking about which, I'm a little less comfortable. I hope you understand Tara. "

She nodded, grasping in his sudden change of demeanor, " And what'bout you? Teacher? " she smiled nodding again. 

" You still live with your parents? "

" Nah. In a apartment, in Murari Nagar. Tum? "

" Chandigarh, my hometown. Abhi ke liye toh Parth ke saath reh rahan hu, told you na, came here for the reunion. A month's break and then back to my work. " Abhimanyu said.

" Work? " Tara's had her interest piqued.

" I'd my own self defence classes going on, madam. Ek tarah ka teacher hi hu. "

" Wow. That's great. I see, you still had your passion on. How many days, did you say, you'll stay here? " 'I want to meet you again', she refrained herself from saying this.

" A month, most probably. Kyu date pe le jaane ka iraada hain? " Abhimanyu slapped himself mentally for blurting it out.

Date? Where did this even come from?

" You still single? " she asked ignoring the fluttering in her stomach.

" Haan toh, tum bhi toh single ho, mind telling me why? " he counter asked.

" Who said that I was single? "

" You're not? " Abhimanyu's face fell, at the thought of her with someone else.

Tara, masking innocence, showed him a random platinum ring on her finger. His face falls more.

Trying hard not to show the sheer disappointment, he gave her a fake smile, " Congrats, you deserved all the happiness of the world. Who's the lucky guy? "

"Tara? " both of them turned to the intruder. A young man, in his early thirties, standing a few steps away from their table.

Tara got up and walked towards him. Suprising Abhimanyu, she hugged him squealing, the joy radiating off her. The man wrapped his arms around her, protectively. Abhimanyu teared off his gaze. He felt like an outsider, witnessing their moment.