Yuhn Hota Toh Kya Hota- Rikara FF

Chapter 18

Gauri got down from the train. Her train was delayed by two hours. The Victoria Terminus station was packed with people, as expected. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. As Gauri left the station, after freshening up in the station waiting room, she realized its not just the railway station, but the entire city of Mumbai which seemed in a hurry. She heard from people in her zila who had visited Mumbai in their vacations, that the city of Mumbai never slept. Looked like she was going to experience it first hand now. Gauri looked at the huge station behind her, and the massive city before her, in wonder. Slowly, her face curled up in a genuine, curious smile. Her first smile since days. Gauri felt like the city beckoned to her. 

She didn't carry much luggage with her, just her handbag with money and her phone, and a small case with her clothes. Gauri decided to travel light, not just because most of her stuff was probably gathering dust at her chaacha-chaachi's place, but also because it was practical, she had no place to stay at Mumbai. 

Gauri looked at the address Tiwary ji had told her over the phone. Gauri had called up all the people she used to take clothing orders from outside Bareilly. Some of them had no connections in Mumbai, but fortunately for her, Tiwary ji, who was really impressed with Gauri's work and dedication, had given her the address of an idol dressmaker who owned a big business in Mumbai. Majmudaar ji had set up his shop right next to Maatarani ka temple in Juhu. Gauri had no idea which direction to take, so she tried to ask a passerby where to go. Strangely, it seemed that everyone in Mumbai were too set upon their own work, to stop a minute and help a stranger. 

"Ajeeb shaher hain. Humne suna tha ki Mumbai ke logon ko saans lene ki fursat nahi hai.(This is a strange city. I had heard that people don't have time to breathe in Mumbai) But I didn't know that people meant it literally." Gauri remarked to herself. 

Then her eyes saw a jhaanki (small procession) of a idol passing by. She walked towards that jhaanki. She asked a devotee carrying the jhaanki. "Which goddess is this?" 

"Maybe you are new here. This is Mumba devi, the city of Mumbai is named after her." the devotee replied with a smile. 

Gauri joined her hands in front of the idol and said, "Jai Mumba devi. You may not know me, but you definitely must be knowing Shankarji. I'm his favorite. He will definitely vouch for me. Please help his chiraiyaa in your city. Thank you!" 

A loud horn plonking behind her broke through her prayers, and Gauri realized that she's blocking the way. 

"Haan, haan, jaa rahe hai. Humein kaunsa ghar basaana hain, sadak ke beech mein?" (Yes, yes, I'm going. I'm not going to build my house in the middle of the road.) Gauri said, looking irritatedly, at the cars lined up behind her.

As she moved and looked again for the idol, she realized the jhaanki had already gone on its way. 

"Yahaan toh bhagvaan bhi jaldi mein lagte hain." (Even God seems in a hurry here.) 

Omkara was annoyed at the hold up. Something was stopping up the car ahead of him. Not that he was eager to reach office on time, but stuck in his air-conditioned car reminded him, how much he missed traveling in the Mumbai local train or on foot. Omkara looked beyond his driver to see what's causing the holdup. All he could see was a long red dupatta flowing slightly, in front of the car, ahead of his. Strangely, the dupatta reminded him of the bright yellow dupatta that had grazed his face on his first day in Bareilly. Bareilly. The memories of that girl came flooding back. He should stop thinking about what happened in that city. 

The car before him cleared, and his driver stepped on the accelerator. Omkara saw the girl causing the holdup moving out of the way. Was his eyes playing a trick or it was actually that girl, Gauri? Omkara craned his neck to get a better look but the girl had her back to him. Before he make out her face, his car sped by on its route. 

Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. Was he getting slightly obsessed with that girl? Omkara gave his head a shake vigorously. 

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Soumya thought the strange looks would've stopped by now. Ever since that video of her and Rudy's accidental marriage had been leaked by the press, she had been the recipient of a lot awkward looks. Like people had just stopped talking about her seeing her arrive. But it had stopped in the last couple of days; after all her "marriage" became stale news soon, and people moved on to new gossip. However, today she seemed to be attracting renewed glances from people. Except that it was not hush-hush this time. Students were not bothering to pretend they had not been talking about her. Why? What happened?

Then she saw him. Rudy. Entering the college corridor with Chubby. Chubby looked slightly apologetic. Chubby was friends with both Soumya and Rudy, and though the latter was his best friend, Chubby had always been decent to Soumya. He looked awkward at the unavoidable clash between Rudy and Soumya, as they both were coming from opposite directions. But the clash didn't happen. A girl intervened. One of Rudy's many "girlfriends". 

"So, Rudy, good to see you finally come to college. We thought you were hiding from your wife at home." the girl laughed shrilly, at her pathetic joke, and her equally frivolous group of female friends joined in.

"Wife?" Rudy asked puzzled. 

"Soumya. Who else? We saw the video, you know." replied the girl shrewdly. 

"That video is fake. There is nothing like that between me and Soumya." asserted Rudy, feeling a little annoyed that Soumya didn't correct this misconception in college. After all, he, Rudy wasn't here, but Soumya never missed college, she should have shut these people up. 

"Is it so? And there is nothing between you and Soumya?" the girl asked, pretending to be mildly curious. 

Rudy wanted to say its none of her business, but he realized that the entire college seemed to be standing there, listening to that conversation, waiting for his answer. He knew this is the best option to clear all rumors. "Nothing there is nothing between me and Soumya. And there can never be anything between me and Soumya. She is not my type. You guys know me since the last three years, do you think I, Rudra Singh Oberoi, would have anything to do with a plump nerd like Soumya? She is not my takkar ki Ishqbaaaz." 

Only when the crowd cleared after getting the reply they had been hoping for, did Rudra see that Soumya was just standing a few meters away. She'd heard everything and immediately took an about turn and left. 

Shit! What had he just said? He looked to his right and saw Chubby, giving him a disappointed look. 

"Rudra. I am fat too. So, I'm not good enough to be your best friend, I guess?" he said sadly. Chubby also left from there. 

Rudy felt that he had messed up in the worst way possible. In one day, he managed to hurt two friends. Not a bad score, Rudy Boy! Damn! Rudy cursed himself. 

P.S. Shorter updates, 'cos the I'm updating daily. :-)