Kismat Connection Part1

Back ground story: 

Roshni and Riya were best friends and grew up together in an orphanage...While Roshni finished college and took up teaching as a profession, Riya, being more ambitious secured a scholarship in the US...She went on to do a PHD in forensic science and was employed there...

Though miles apart, Riya and Roshni always kept in touch through phone calls and emails...Distance never really bothered their friendship!

Arjun works for ETF where Sameer is the chief...They are close friends too...

Arjun happens to meet Roshni through a common friend and falls in love instantly...Though she resists, she eventually falls for his charms...Arjun's family disowns him when he stands  firm on his decision to marry an orphan...They get married and live happily...but the fairy tale life doesnt last long...She falls prey to the bullets of a criminal who wished to avenge Arjun...In an attempt to save his life, she loses her life...

Arjun is all broken, and though his friends try to shoulder him, he drifts away from everybody...from his social and friendly circles!!! 

he becomes ruthless and wreckless most of the times...shows no pity while handling criminals which often landed him in trouble...

Then lands Riya...Almost 3 months after Roshni's death, she winds up everything in the US and comes back to India...Arjun gives her shelter in his apartment till she found a suitable place only because she was Roshni's best friend and also because she didnt have any other acquaintance in the city...He felt that Roshni's soul would be happy if he did that...somehow he didnt feel like saying "NO" when Riya insisted that she wished to stay in his house...

Present Day story:

Arjun and Riya waited at the door step for the grahapravesh ceremony...Arjun was his usual self...looking least interested in anything that was happening...He had a garland hung to his hand, the only sign to show that he was the bridegroom...His attitude at its peak making it seem like nothing happening around concerned him...He was dressed in a black formal shirt as usual and a blue rugged jeans! 

On the other hand, Riya looked like a simple bride, wearing a turquoise saree with minimal silver work done all over...the garland still around her neck...a mangalsutra and sindoor at the parting of the hair adding the new bride touch...

She looked stunning and beautiful...

Arjun was getting impatient standing there and was letting sighs of restlessness only to be controlled and convinced by Rathore "thodi dher wait kar yaar, Sona abhi aathi hi hogi" 

[Sona was short for Mrs Sonali Rathod...She had insisted them to stay outside while she readied the kalash and the arthi plate!]

Shree and Chotu were smiling and giving meaningful nods at each other...They were behind the couple and enjoying the scene to the fullest!  

Riya was busy stealing glances of her husband [ARJUN was finally her husband...that thought was giving her goosebumps] 

And the akdu husband wasnt even looking at his newly wed wife. that too a pretty and cute wife!

she noticed his disinterest and sighed deeply and muttered under her breath "Riya baby, try to get accustomed to his ways soon...you are never gonna win his attention any time soon"

"Sona, jaldi karo plzz...warna Rawte iss zameen ko thod hi daalega!!"...Rathod called out to his wife...Riya and the others gave an amused look at Rathod and then at Arjun's feet!!! 

Arjun was glaring at Rathod for making it all sound like a joke...Rathod smirked and winked at Riya...Arjun didnt miss any of it but chose to remain silent!

Chotu whispered to Shree "yeh Arjun sir ko andhar jaane ki itni jaldi kyun hai???"

Shree: [whispering back with a giggle] Chotu tum shakal se motu ho, par akal se chotu hi ho...[chotu stared and scratched his head while Shree continued]..samjha kar na...abhi abhi shaadi hui hai, jaldi tho hogi!!! 

[Chotu grinned at that while Riya and Rathod gestured them to keep quiet]

After the grahapravesh, all proceeded to the hallway when Sonali made a small attempt at doing the other rasams of the wedding to which Arjun voiced a strict "NO"

Sonali: Arjun, ab shaadi ki hai tho rasam bhi hone dho na???

Arjun: main inn sab mein vishwas nahi karthaa...shaadi hogayi, bas itna kaafi hai! Ab Riya ke yahaan rehne se kisi ko bhi problem nahi hone chahiye...samjhe ya samjaavum??

[looked at the others for a nod from them]

Arjun muttered under his breath since none opened their mouth "waise bhi, yeh sab rasam nibaa kar pehle bhi shaadi kar chukhaa hoom...par kya hua??

He didnt seem to care about the sensitivity of whatever he spoke or the effect it had on Riya!!! 

but Sona and Sameer were definitely angered by his loose talk...but they controlled it and prepared to leave...They didnt want to worsen the situation and make it more awkward for Riya...it was a special day atleast for her and they didnt want to ruin it...

Sonali went into the rooms taking Shree and Chotu along...then returned back soon!

Sameer called out for his wife and the team "chalo chalo...bahut dher hogayi...inae bhi rest karne dho!"

Sameer stood up and patted Arjun's shoulder "ok Rawte...nahi zindagi ke shuruwat hai...rasam nahi kiya, koyi baat nahi par rishtey ko zaroor nibaana!! Riya tumhaari patni hai, bhool matth jaanaa!!" 

Arjun didnt reply...he just gave him a meaningful look "tum sab kuch jaanthe ho Rathod, phir bhi!!!"

Shree, Chotu bid byes to Riya and Arjun and started climbing down the stairs...Sonali hugged and whispered something into her ears and followed suit with Shree and Chotu...Riya shyly smiled at that...she lowered her head and passed a side way glance at Arjun's reaction...He stood there expressionless as always! 

Sameer and Arjun walked out leaving Riya at the door...Sameer added as a parting note  "chaahe toh dho din chutti lae lo..."

Arjun: [glaring at him and spoke up] Main tumme kal subah ETF office mein miltha hoom!! 

Sameer nodded and left with a "yeh kabhi nahi sudrega, bichaari Riya!" look on his face...

Arjun walked back to his flat...Riya was standing like a lost puppy at the hall way not knowing what to do next...She was herself confused with the sudden turn of events...till 2 days back, she had no clue about all this...not in the wildest dreams had she dreamt of becoming Mrs Arjun Rawthe  so soon...

It was just yesterday morning that he strolled out of his room and announced to her "Lets get married Riya!" 

She had no clue as to what was running in his mind when he said that...Nor did she have the guts to ask him for the sudden decision...Yes, she knew that the rumors going around in the apartment complex and the official circles were affecting him the same way as it affected her...Ever since Riya landed up in Arjun's house, rumor mills had started working extra time...though Arjun seemed undisturbed by all that, Riya knew that he was very agitated internally! 

She was being termed as his live in partner or some even referred to as a call girl...but she chose to ignore all that she heard behind a lone tear...She was quite hurt but she showed none of it in front of him...She never wished to force herself on him...They never once discussed about it...So his announcement to get married was a shock to her...but at the same time, she felt happy that finally she was getting what she was wishing for...And that also meant fulfilling Roshni's last wish...that was the only reason behind Riya's nod to such an abrupt decision!

Arjun insisted on a court marriage...Nobody dared to protest, not even Sameer...Sameer was happy just by his decision to remarry...atleast Arjun decided to move on in life...that was all that mattered to Sameer...a remarriage and that too to a nice, responsible and matured girl like Riya only meant that his life would get back to track...gradually everything will return to normal...

So today, the court marriage took place in the morning and Riya & Arjun became Mrs & Mr Arjun Rawte officially...it was followed by a simple get together lunch at Sameer's place...Arjun didnt find any strong reason to back out from the lunch...he had to oblige to Sameer's request...and of course Sonali's order!

It was indeed a long day and finally they were back home...Riya let out a deep sigh and removed the garland from the neck...[Sonali had insisted that they wear it back during the grahapravesh for a few photo clicks to give the "JUST MARRIED" effect...Arjun obviously declined the fancy thought and hung it on his hands...]

Riya was wondering "WHAT NEXT" and waited for Arjun to say something...but he seemed to have ignored her completely and walked past her into his room..."Was he assuming that she would follow him by herself?? or is it that he is confused too as to what to say??"

Riya's mind was bubbling with conflicting thoughts...She badly needed to freshen up and change into something comfortable...She remembered that her  things were in the guest room...So she walked over to find her suitcases missing...

OMG, where are they???? may be Arjun sir [ever since she joined ETF, she had been calling him "Sir" but now she had to change it...Arjun Sir was her Arjun now, her husband! she smiled at that thought] shifted it to his room...[she blushed and walked back to his room...the door was ajar and she pushed it open...somehow, she didnt feel like knocking it first...]

The entire bed had a layer of jasmine and rose petals spread all over...so that was what Sonali was up to...she smiled...At the same instant, Arjun stepped out of the wash room wearing a vest and tracks! towel hung on his shoulder! He didnt notice Riya!

he looked fresh after a shower...Riya couldnt take her eyes off him...he looked too hot to handle! drops of water still lingering on his hair...he went to the mirror and started combing his hair casually when he saw her reflection on the mirror just beside him...picture looking perfect and complete...

Riya was still in a trance and her eyes were fixed on him...He turned around instantaneously and looked at her...He looked at her as if she had trespassed a forbidden place!

Arjun: kya hua??? kuch chahiye kya???

Riya: woh... woh...[hesitantly] mujhe dress change kar na tha...par...[Arjun stared at her waiting for her to complete] par mera suitcase??? [she looked around while Arjun had already spotted her luggage near his wardrobe]

Arjun: woh rahaa tumaara suitcase...[turns back to the mirror and continues combing] zaroor sonali ka kaam hoga...aise ideas toh uske dimaag mein hi aayenge...[turns to the bed] ab yeh bed bhi saaf karna padega...[he lifted the bed spread and shook it fiercely so that the flowers fall off]

[Riya was puzzled by all this and still stood there like a doll while Arjun looked at her and said] kya dekh rahi ho??? tumaara suitcase lae lo!!! aur jao...jaakhar so jaao...kal subah jaldi read ho jaana!!!

[Riya didnt wait another moment...she took her belongings and hurried back to her room...She closed her door in a fit of anger and threw the suit case on to the bed...She sat on the bed and composed herself...All she could manage was a small laugh at whatever happened...What she hoped for and what really happened!!! she spoke to herself "Riya, you are the most silliest girl in the whole world...how the hell did you think that Arjun sir would carry you to his room and give you the rights of a wife so easily?? you need to have lots of patience Riya!! sabar ka phal meeta hota hai..."]

She grinned and cleared her head at once...She quickly changed and before retiring to the bed, she took out a photo from the side table's draw...It was a photo of her and Roshni...She glided her fingers over Roshni's face "dekha tumaara pati dev ko...bohat ziddhi hai...tumse abi bhi bohat pyar kartha hai...itne aasaani se nahi badhlega!! bohat hard work karni padegi!!!"

suddenly she felt like she was hearing Roshni's voice..."tho karo na hardwork...waise bhi ab woh mera pati nahi, tumaara pati dev hai!! usse kareeb laana, yeh sirf tumaari responsibility" 

Riya: haan haan...tum aaraam se uphar baetkar thamaasha dekho...mujhe nahi lagtha ke woh mujhe apna paayenge...

Roshni: oye oye...naaraaz matth ho!! ek baat bol...jab sab tumaare aur arjun ki mazaag banaa rahe teh...tumme ulta seeda keh rahe teh...Arjun ne kya kiya????

Riya: wahi tho...mujhe lagtha hai ke sirf usi ek reason ke liye woh mujhse shaadi ki hai...

Roshni: socho Riya socho...woh tumme iss ghar se jaane ko bhi keh sakthe teh...iss jagah se dhoor, unki life se dhoor bhi jaane ko keh sakthe teh...par, nahi kahaa...kyun??? kyun tumse shaadi kar ne ki socha???

Riya: [thinks deeply] iss angle se maine socha hi nahi thaa...

Roshni: tho sochna shuru karo...for god's sake tum ek police officer ho...aise angles ko nahi dekhogi tho case kaise solve karogi???

Riya: [smiled] woh kya hai na? kahi baar choti choti cheez dikhthi hai par nazar nahi aathi...aise tumaare...[correcting herself ] i mean humaare pati dev kehthe hai...

Roshni laughs out...Riya too laughs...

[Arjun had stepped outside his room to get a bottle of water from the fridge and he hears riya talking and also her loud laugh and wonders "yeh ladki ab tak soyi nahi...bilkul paagal hai!" [he shakes his head and smiles to himself amused with her antics]

[PS: Roshni's voice is just an imaginary voice that Riya feels within her head...her own mind voice talking and reasoning out things with herself...The real reason behind Roshni's last wish and how Riya knows about it will come in the upcoming parts!

Arjun's decision to marry Riya for such a minor reason may seem odd to you but it has a strong hidden reason too...it will come out soon!]

[To be continued]