After some time dev too arrived. He directly pulled a chair from the other side and sat beside teju
Dev: oh hi lovebirds! Oops sorry ex lovebirds
Karan didn't like how he addressed them. Teju too gave him a deadly glare
Dev: sorry...pulling his ear
Teju: nataunki
Dev: hi Karan! Though we met earlier, it's a informal hii this time and smile widely
Karan: hii dev. Its nice meeting you man
Dev: how's uncle?
Karan: he's good. Stiill recovering
Dev: I hope he's not taking stress of any sort
Karan: no no.. Keeping it in check
Dev: glad
Dev: by the way you look bit different... I mean handsome than the last time we met ... Hahahha! Just joking
Teju: dev you are okay right? Why are you behaving so weird today?
Dev: Am I?
Teju: yes
Dev: may be because I m famished. Back to back surgeries and then outpatients. Haven't have anything since last 12 hours and makes a puppy face
Teju: are you fucking kidding me? How many times have I told you to never miss your meals. Doctors he bimar par jayenge to who will look after the patient and hits his shoulder. This workoholic nature of yours will completely ruin you. My god this guy I m so fed up with you. Wait I will call uncle and aunty
Dev: please please teju. Mardalenge mujhe. I beg of you
Teju: no I m gonna inform them
They were so busy with their bickering that they completely forgot karan's presence. Karan was just observing them and his heart pained on learning how they both were extremely close. And why not! dev happened to spend more time with her compared to him. It was getting difficult for him and he was just waiting for an opportunity to excuse himself.
To his escape Omi called
Omi: sorry bhai aap k khoobsurat date ko disturb karne k liye. But just a remainder you have a meet at 5pm. Excitement me bhul mat jana
Karan: finding it as and opportunity. Oh ma toh bhul hi gaya. Aabhi aaya
Omi: aabhi nahi. 5 baje
Karan: haha... I m coming. He then cancels his call
Omi: kya hogaya inhe
Karan interrupted their bickering session and excused himself to take leave
Teju: but we just arrived
Karan: sorry... Something came up
Dev didn't say anything and just bid him bye
Teju: ese kya hogaya.. Agar meeting tha toh muje bulaya hi kyu and makes a sad pout
Dev understood why karan left. Maybe he wanted to have some alone time with teju. Maybe he was intimidated by his presence just like he did initially. He saw teju's fallen face and felt maybe he shouldn't have interrupted their meet. He composed himself and started cheering up teju
Dev: teju yaar mai kabse bhuka hu aur tu kai aur hi khoyi hui hai
Teju: sorry sorry.. Order kar
Dev: tu kya khayegi?
Teju: kuch bhi manga le
Soon they finished their lunch and teju felt bad that Karan didn't even eat his lunch and left empty stomach
Karan flung open the door of his house and locked himself in the room without exchanging any convo. Everybody including karan's parents, jess, om and other members from his team were there in the living room
Papa k : is khotaya ko kya hogaya! Jab gaya tha tab acha mood ma tha
Omi: mai baat karta hu. Karan bhai open the door or else I will break it
Karan opened the door after sometime. Kya hai! Pareshan kyu kar raha hai. Ek pal ki bhi chain nahi hai muje
Omi: kya hua ha.. Batau na muje.. Ladoo bhabhi se nahi mila kya
Karan: mila lekin baat nahi hua.... Arggg and he pulls his hair in frustration
Omi: Mila lekin baat nahi hua. Muje kuch samaj nahi aaya
Karan: uss ka dev waha aagaya
Omi: kaun? Dr dev patel?
Karan starts massaging his forehead with his hand. Yeh dev yaar kaha bhi pauch jata hai! Kabhi toh teju ko akela chora kar
Omi: dost hai bhai
Karan: toh kya dost hai toh sar pe bathey rahega kya. Aur ladoo usa kya zaroorat thi usey waha bula ney ki. Om ladoo ka toh pata nahi but I m 110% sure ki dev teju ko pasand karta hai
Omi: uff ab aap overthink kar rahe ho
Karan: nahi... I have this strong intuition ki kuch toh zaroor hai dev ke taraf se
Omi: acha bhai manliya aab kya? Chor doogi koshish karna
Karan: kabhi nahi
Here teju was worried so she instinctively texted Karan
Teju: hey how was the meet?
Karan: oh hi! It went well
Teju: I see. Hope you had your lunch. I was a bit guilty that you missed on it because of our continous stupid idiotic talks?
Karan: if you are guilty then compensate for it
Teju: I mean how?
Karan: you can take me for dinner
Teju: I wish I could but I have plans with my parents in the evening today. Will you be available tomorrow?
Karan: always. For you
Teju felt shy on the response but decided to brush it off
Teju: ok then see you tomorrow
Later in the evening she took her parents for shopping, brought them new clothes and took them for dinner in a fancy restaurant. Basically she was compensating for the 3 years she wasn't present with them
Teju: did you like the food?
Aai: mast chey bacha
Baba: it's pretty good
Teju: glad you like it. This is my way of saying sorry and thank you both
Aai: kes liye bacha?
Teju: sorry because I was selfish to let go of you people and thankyou for understanding me, that I needed space at that particular point of time in my life, giving me time to heal. I promise I will make it up to you guys
Baba: you can do something for us then
Teju: raised her eyebrows in surpise... Anything
Baba: settle down.
Aai: ha bacha... We have grown too old now. We wish to see you get married soon. We have always tried to keep your wish above us and always supported you but please fulfill our wish this time
Teju: aai I know you pray for my well being but I m happy this way. Do you wish for me to get married to a stranger and cry whole life?
Aai: nods her head in a no with teary eyes
Baba: but what if he is not a stranger and someone really close to you?
Teju: laughs...kaun hai esa bhai? Muje bhi janna hai
Baba: your best friend dev
Teju: papa yaar please. Mai ne aap se pehle bhi baat kiya es bare ma
Baba: I know that he is not your choice. But I like him. He always keeps you smiling. I m team dev forever and I will not give up till the end. The ship will definitely sail someday. He said with full determination in his voice
Teju: laughed at her father's choice of words. Mama aap ko kuch kehna hai?
Aai: mera toh choice koi aur tha and smiles sadly
All of them remained silent for sometime
Baba: us ka zikar karna zaroori tha kya! sara mood kharab kar diya
He then walks out to the loo
Teju: aai
Aai: sorry beta. Mai bhool gayi thi ki us ne tere sath kya kiya. Par muje abhi bhi nahi lagta ki woh aisa kuch kar sakta tha tere sath
Teju: muje bhi kabhi nahi laga tha. Par thik hai. Jo likha hota hai wahi hota hai. But I wanna tell you something. I m in talking terms with him
Aai: bappa! teju tere papa ko pata chalega toh
Teju: unhe pata nahi chalega...we decided to be civil and start as friends again. I will tell baba later
Aai: par tu kar payigi na? Itne saal tu usse hi baagti rahi
Teju: ise liye to face karna hai ... I have to learn to live with it
The trios went back home after dining and drift off to sleep in their respective rooms