Hello….Its Jessie back with next shot…do share your reviews and likes…It would really help me a lot…
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My Little Queen (Shot 3 )
Arjun Fernandez your angel is here….
Oh really!! My mind mocked a sec later..!! She indeed looked like a angel,Ah.! Yes..!! For the first time in my life.,I felt completely blank for a minute..but that doesn’t mean she could be my angel…
The next one week,my mom and Sam made it tough for me,with their constant talks about her,only about her.,when they came to Goa for the inauguration…..Although.,I turned myself into a selective deaf mode,hearing the word, ‘Radhika’,the normal human curiosity did had its effect…Result !….I got to know a part of her history..Radhika studied in boarding school for last 2 years,while my family stayed in ooty..My mom and hers worked together,and owing to transfer,she left Radhika back in ooty…and after 2 years,they four stayed together in chennai…And she lost her father when she was 8 years old…..the rest was about her naughty nature…
I felt my whole house,to be desolate without my mom and sister.,and that too after their recent visit…..My mom had only 2 years for her retirement,and Sam was adamant to continue her studies back in Chennai,we had no other go,other than to be convinced of…so,I used to pay frequent visits,and during one such visit…
“What’s this mom..this cake is somewhat…”
“Aru…why did you take it..that’s for Radhika…..eggless.”,my mom pulled the box from me…
“Eggless????”,I looked confused…
“Yea..she is Vegetarian..Brahmin.!!…but loves cake a lot…Aunt would scold her,if she gets those….So mom will make eggless for her”,Sam chirped..
“Then why to have cakes..?? Mom..I come once in a while..and you spoiled it making someone’s favorite”,I turned annoyed,but felt a little bad,when I saw her standing near kitchen doorway…..After that day in church,it was only then we met…and that too..in this way..
She stood with her gaze at ground…I heard my mom and Sam to say not to consider my words…..
“That’s ok…Arjun is correct..!”,she said meekly…
Arjun! The nerve of the girl to address me with my first name…..I remained silent…
The same day evening,when I came to hall,she collided me as she rushed to her home…
“What..??
“Am sorry Arjun!”,she turned apologizing..
“Arjun???..”,my raised voice and glare shook her a little…
Biting her lower lip,a sec later she said,”Am sorry bhaiya.!!!”.
Before I could react any further,she rushed away…I cursed myself for opening my big..
She did address me the same,the very next day….Even though I had no feelings for her,it was hard to digest the word…Bhaiya!!! The word which sounded sweet when my Sam says, gave a ear bleed now…..
“Stop saying so”,I said,after clearly noticing none to be there in our dining hall,other than us…I believed she understood… and won’t cross my path ever..No!!
When I came next month,I heard her saying to my mom…”Aunty.,simple..ask bhaiya to promise on Bible…He can’t refuse you see…then…he will quit..”she spoke still more…I saw Sam to chew her nails…..
The next day.,Dad and Sam were sitting anxious in dining hall..,while my mom stood worried with our holy book….I knew whats coming up…..I so wanted to throttle that girl’s neck..,for bringing us under such a situation…
“Yes..Mom!!”,I saw her,averting my gaze from the laptop screen…
“Do you still smoke?”,my mom asked point blank…
The emerging entrepreneur inside me,indeed had turned me a intimidating one,and that’s one reason my family were bit hesitant with me….My parents did taunt me a lot for those habits…! But am no movie hero,to turn a new leaf in a day…
“Yes mom!! It’s been 5 years..from college days..”,I saw her..then holy book and again her….
My mom did understood…she kept The Bible aside…
“Can you quit it,for me…”,she looked me hopefully….she advised a lot in those 7 weeks…I guess,she got too worried…
“Sure mom! But gradually..!”,I stood from my place..”..but you should speak with me like before…you all..”,I looked my family…
“I you keep your promise..we will”,Sam said from her place…
“I dint promise anything,yet”,I replied high..and she came huffing…
“Quiet you both…! I know..my Aru will do it for me….”,my mom gave a proud look,after holding my cheek for a second
How could I disappoint her..! Her belief..I tried..was trying…til that day…when she came to meet sam…It was my turn of cooking that day..! Yes..!! This is something we..our family…started to follow recently…My family was busy playing video games in upstairs.,and I had asked them to come down only after my call,else Sam would eat my head… I was chopping bell peppers,and celery as fast as I could.,because I was already late…..my cigarette accompanying my swift movements…
“Sam…Sam…where are you, u idiot…did you finish….”,I turned listening her to stop abruptly..
“Go upstairs!”,I said with my cigar in between teeth…..she blinked like a doll…..her eyes quickly glanced me…and I saw myself,my tees little drenched with sweat…my brows raised for a inquiry…
She glared me and turned…it struck me…!..I quickly blocked her way…she glared me back..!! I was thoroughly amused at that…what did she think about herself…
“Its you isn’t..”,I leaned and she hit her back on wall…
“Listen..!! Stop interfering…!! I know..you gave that idea about promising on holy book…next time…I shouldn’t…”
“I…no…actu..”,she stuttered..
“Ssshhh..!!…I don’t care what the f..”,I held myself back when her orbs widened….”next time…I shouldn’t hear you speaking about me..anywhere around here,when I come home….and most importantly…”,I raised my finger, but she covered her face,and next second coughed to my face…..unable to control further,she coughed pushing me,and I had a doubt,her to fake a cough,only to shut me…!! I stood still,buy she coughed more rigorous,pushed me forcefully and threw up a little in my kitchen sink…
Her face turned pinkish,as she rubbed her face.,while coughing…her eyes watered…her fingers rubbed her throat,and I handed her a glass of water still unable to figure out what went wrong with her….
She shoved my hand,rubbing her nose..
“What’s this drama for?”,I asked taking a step closer….but she pointed my face…what..!! Oh…my mouth ..!! Cigarette!! I smiled as the realization dawned on me…
“Don’t smile…you…you puffed it…into…my mouth..”,she stammered….
I off lately recalled,yea! I leaned to her face,but wasn’t that close..!!
“Who asked you keep your mouth opened..like a fish!!”,I animated hers and then to close,while she moved aside quickly….drank some water,rubbing her chest…. I continued my cooking…
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“Oh God!! I can’t even tolerate the smell and how is he smoking..yuck! Chiiii!!! Thooo!! Aa…!! Sorry…!! Forgive me please…! But.pls….other than this..he is a good person..!! Give him some knowledge….I want him to quit smoking…plssss…..listen my prayer…plssss….pretty plssss..!”
Prayer!! Was that one?!…I stepped a little to see her walking to and fro in our prayer place..,and a plate with food..my handmade one…before our Lord..!! Bribery!! That day.,she amused me like anything..,that every time I got flashes of only her face and that day’s incidents,When ever I picked a cigarette….above all.,what disturbed my mind was.,the way she hid a cigarette packet inside her dress,which I left in kitchen by mistake…Sam tried to pull her folded hands,on her middle,but she was too reluctant…More than her,I was tensed.,because I know,if they see the cigar packet,my family won’t touch the food I prepared…..
Ah..! That was one great escape..!! But I myself realized,my worries and concern about my family’s opinion on me..and I could never tolerate them.,ignoring me and I cant withstand them being disappointed…The more they believed I left smoking,the more I was respected.,loved and pampered like a kid…I always thought,the years we spent without my parents together,can never be brought back.,but this one contradicted my belief…I felt 26 years old and 13 years old at the same time…
“You realized that we said for your good…thanks”,my mom said after a month…
“A son should listen his mom,isnt”,I grinned…
“But, I never was a responsible mom…I …our ego…my pain..”,my mom said with tears..
I understood the reason,they respect their son now..!!
“You were..!! always mom..!! Now its my turn…I will try to quit drinking too”,I said captivated in her motherly bond…
That did result good.!! My mom left her worries to drain…
I was relaxed that,she.,Radhika kept herself away from me..still.,we would come face to face at times,and she would run like a scared kitten looking me..
May be smoke therapy!
It was just a year back,when Neil came with a proposal for Sam,I happened to listen her lecture again…irritating me..! Neil,my friend,who saw Sam with me, asked my permission like a real gentleman….
“Don’t worry Sam…! I will make that Neil to run like anything..”,she patted Sam’s shoulders at last….
I was in a hurry to catch my flight,I spared her…but.,when Neil said that a guy proposed Sam in front of both the families..I lost my hold on my temper…the day I came to Chennai,I spat venom at her face…what not I said…
“Pls aunty..Arjun Bhaiya is….”
“Shut up…I told you already… stay in your limits…and its Fernandez..! Fernandez sir..! For strangers..”,I growled scaring everyone including my family…I din’t pay heed to my family
when they came to speak with me..
But next day,Neil came down with his family to fix the alliance…..
“Where is your friend,Radhika…”,he asked to Sam…and I saw the whole family to give me a accused look..
“Why her?”,I asked…somewhere I felt,I had done a mistake of scolding her….
“Buddy…that guy,..he had been behind Sam for past 2 years and hearing about this alliance..,he thought to propose it seems..and..he thought me to be you…her brother..!! I then realized..why he held my hand requesting me to accept his love..!!”,Neil laughed…
“Finally…he apologized.,clearing the air…!! I thought…not to disturb sam’s love… but she too called me yesterday morning..Now..no more delay…Please fix this..before someone else comes…”,he turned to my dad and both the families laughed…
“Sam..Call your friend…I wanna thank her in person….She called me more than ten times,which finally led me to have a thought,to listen that guy…and Sorry sam! the guy said ‘our love’..you were silent.,so I took it the other way…But…wait..she said.,she planned to chase me away… why?”,he asked and now we all looked Sam..
Sam bit her lips.,”That…I din’t want to be far from my friend..plus..we thought you will not let me to complete the course”,she gave everyone a worried look and it was Neil to laugh aloud breaking the silence…
“I told your brother…I will wait till you finish your course..He din’t say.??..and..what…far from friend…My god! now..now…bring her here Sam!”,Neil asked again irritating me…
“She won’t come here”,My mom said like a announcement…
Only to restrain any new drama to unfold, I said.,”Sam…Come with me…”
After some good 5 mins of apologizing to her.,she called Radhika…I held it in speaker to apologize,before Sam..
“Is your brother there..?if so say hmm..else.. else say hey”,she said the moment she received our call..
What a code language!
“Radhu…Neil is here..Pls come home…He wants to meet you…”,Sam looked the phone unable to see me…Am gonna ask how long this silly code was going on..
“Ummm…Okay..but what about your angry bird..!! He will be there isn’t…I won’t”,she replied with various voice modulations..
Now..I was in no mood to apologize her…
“Well…he thought to apologize…”,Sam words cut in,when she yelled…
“Wake up sam!! or am I dreaming..!!
“Please come home..”,I said only to cut her crap… There was complete silence on the other side..
“Did you learn mimicry Sam!”,she asked..
Sam saw my face and broke into fits of laughter the next second….
“Its me Arjun…”,I said again…
“Hey..too good yaa…Sounds like him…”,she said further… I signaled Sam to move away..
“What did you do with my Cigarette packet?”,I asked smirking…the line went dead after few secs.. I thought to have a look outside.,and moved to my balcony,but saw Sam at her door..
“Thank you Nandu Maa…you are so sweet”.Sam said and pulled her to my home…
That was the first time,I saw her to be silent…Others were busy conversing with each other,she rolled her eyes searching me..,I animated to smoke and she quickly turned her gaze down…I couldn’t control my winning smirk..
After an hour.,we finalized everything about wedding…My dad discussed every single thing with my mom.,which was a true treat to watch…I conveyed about my involvement in the wedding..when I said.,I would bear the whole expenses including the reception,my dad was surprised…
“No..No dad..Please!”,I held his hand.,when he tried to intervene…
“Then we will take care of your wedding”,Neil winked at me…
Some time later.,I heard my dad say.,”If we,ourselves., din’t respect our love..then there is no value for the life, we lived with love!….A simple way to cherish his blessings on us.,is to live the life he gifted,with the love he blessed,against the odds he sends.,he sends only to know the strength of our belief we have on our love…,belief on our Lord even in dark…even when we feel we are abandoned…Life without odds is something no one can have..Even Lord himself faced it….Its a blessing in disguise..!! we receive after standing together against the odds,just like the way he wishes us to be..”
I saw Neil to listen with a smile…
“Thats’ my Radhu’s words…credits to my friend…”,Sam spoke wagging a finger playfully.,while my dad and mom saw Radhika,who was busy lecturing to Neil’s parents now…
“So..from now on..Even My parents will turn like you…No fights..!”,Neil mocked and my dad slapped his arm..
“Sorry!:”,he held his ears to Sam…
So..this was it..she spoke in tears..to my parents…That day..!!
I saw Neil’s dad to laugh aloud when she explained something,and his mom blushed…
May be that lil kid was correct..She is a Angel..!! My sister got a perfect husband….He respected her decision.,loved her innocence,now became a part of our family…Our family now got extended with 3 more members….Lovely and understanding just like us…! She stood smiling watching the elders to converse.,winked and gave a thumbs up to Sam.,who blushed…Its a indescribable feel to watch your baby sister blush….She has really grown up….!Oh…how much I got to understand in these few months..!! I surely need to thank her..
She stood reading a magazine.,and I cleared my throat…
“Hmmm…Well…You see…I wasn’t…”,I looked around and then her.,she saw me with her mouth opened a little…
“Thanks !! I should have said earlier…And Sorry..! I got you wrong yesterday..”,I finished it like a verbal marathon..and she stood blinking…
It was hard to control my fingers,which itched to pull close her mouth….what was the need to open it like a fish….
I pretended to look into her mouth and she snap shut the next moment glaring me….A sudden thought created tensed vibes inside me….Now.,how will she address me??..God! why did I apologize..what if she kills me addressing as her brother..!!
“Speak something”,I gritted my teeth,only to keep those thoughts of hers’ away,which would have by now decided to pull me inside her brother zone…
“Arrr…Ferr..”,she quickly turned when Sam called her…Sighing relieved she ran in a lightning speed to our hall…
Ah..what was that?!…Arr and Ferr….Glad.,she chose Fernandez instead of Bhaiya!
I leaned back on wall.,watching her to converse with them..they were playing Anthakshari…I could only smile at their nature….A family who came to fix alliance is playing games with songs…and mine was already ready dividing teams.,and this lil one., hopping in floral skirt was their Judge…!!
She made me to judge myself before my family…! With every visit here.,I got to learn something anew about relationships and their love which was completely different of what I thought…
“Okay..! now! Everyone Listen to me”,she said and all turned their heads to her..
As though.,If not.,none listens her!!
I had never been like this…staying away.,watching others’ happy moments…,pondering on my life…wondering on life’s ideologies…enjoying every single thing like a poet…adoring
everyone’s smile…most importantly looking a girl in a very different way..!!! I had never been like this…like a love struck pup…Lion…no…Angry bird…Love struck Angry bird…!!
I saw those eggless cakes and banana muffins on our dining table…..May be…this is what I will get to taste in future…A eggless….chickenless future..I smiled to myself at this thought..!! A complete idiot who thinks about his food..
“Love turned you idiot”,I heard Neil’s dad to yell and Neil covered his face..
She was looking me!..Me??? why?? oh..I was smiling…May be blushing in their girls language!! her hand holding a plate of banana muffins…Good that she was standing in extended part of hall,I could view her.,and only she could see me…
She was looking somewhere and I snapped my fingers being in dining hall….her eyes briskly rolled this side..I gestured her to come..while she stood there in her place..looking them..!they were already in their world..all were couples except us…Her grip on her plate got stiffen..and I winked..
“Bye sam!”,she said surprising everyone including me…!
“Take your cakes”,My mom said..
“No its alright”,she tried to leave…
“Ok..wait..I will…”,My mom was about to get up she said..
“No aunty..I will..You please”.. and My mom smiled before continuing her chat with Neil’s mom…
I pulled the plate inch by inch towards me, every time she extended her hand to take it…
She glared me and turned to leave.. I held her wrist…”Take it..we don’t eat eggless ones”,I said…
I sat leisurely watching her to pack all those, done for her in a box,and saw a piece left in plate.,which had no place for itself in that box….
I took that one and got up.,she saw me confused…
“So you smoke?”,I chuckled a unseen one and she nodded her head vigorously in negative..
“How to believe you?…I saw you taking it..”,I said..
“I did it for you”,she blurted… “I had helped…What if Aunty sees you smoking?”she asked feeble…
I moved around the table to her side…”That doesn’t mean you din’t smoke…I will”
“Fernandez sir..Please…!! I din’t…”,she looked my face…
Good!! She looks me face to face and no more Bhaiya..!!
“See…I took a snap.,when you picked it….So..no one will believe you”,I said like a threatening…
“Why sir? why are you doing like this?”,she asked looking back…
“Ok…leave it…Friends?”,I extended my hand like a kid…Neil’s dad is correct…Love turned me too as a Idiot!!
“Arjun”,I said crooking my neck a little low to her face…
Her orbs ran all over my face.,analyzing my features closely…Yes..She needs to! My stubble.,my lips.,my nose…and my hair..and to my eyes…it halted there…she looked my face
like observing it inside her…I gestured to my hand….
“Arjun.”,I stressed and she extended hers a little….I pulled it for a handshake.,her fragile palm was too soft inside my hold….her thin frame now,stepped back a little…I still held her hand and lend my ear to her…she said..”Radhika..” in a feeble voice…
“Fernandez”,I said immediately..and there.,she exactly did like a fish amusing me more.. I stuffed a muffin inside her mouth and chuckled.,while she glared me chewing it…
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