Recap: Abhiram telling about his trip to Bangalore - He is happy for their concern.

Abhiram's PoV
I looked at my packed bags. Seriously am I going to attend an award function with these dresses? But Abhi, you are not the old billionaire now. Just an ordinary man who is living because of someone else's kindness and pure heart. I smiled at my own thoughts.

Why am I liking this?

I am currently standing at the railway station and to my surprise this is the first time I am going to travel by a train. Wait, I didn't fix it till now.

"Here are your tickets." I looked at the person who failed all my plans.

Why did she accompany me here? I made her believe all my fake stories regarding the fake interview in Bangalore. She being innocent believe it. Not my mistake. I asked Daksh to book two air tickets to Bangalore. I informed him that I will join him at airport after leaving here. But everything turned upside down when she announced that she is also coming to railway station accompanying me.

Why Meenakshi? Why? Now what will I say when Daksh come with the air tickets? Glad that I informed him to join me here last minute.

"Ram, what are you thinking?"she snapped her fingers infront of me and I just brought back to the world.

"Why two tickets?"I asked taking the train tickets from her.
"You said that your friend is also coming with you."she said.

Yes, now I remember. Stupid me.

"He will join me soon."I said fixing a smile on my face.

"Sir, do you want coffee?" A coffee seller asked us.
"Do you want one?" Meenakshi asked me and I shook my head.
She let the coffee seller go.

"Dont tense about anything. Even if the interview is bad, don't stress. Let's try for another job. Ok?"she asked and my heart flutter at her words for a moment.

I nodded with guilt.
I am a big liar...

"Dont forget to call me when you reach Bangalore."she added and I smiled wholeheartedly.

And the next second she handed over a packet to me making me confused.
"What's this Meenu?"I asked.
"A new pair of shirt and pants for you. Selected by me."she said and I widened my eyes.

"For what?"
"Hey you are going to attend an interview. You have to wear some good dress. Otherwise they won't hire you."she said.

Dont know when my eyes started watering. I turned my face away from her to hide it.
"And don't hesitate to kick those interviewers if they ask you difficult questions. Follow Meenakshi's path."she said making me chuckle.

"Ok now you go. Train will come anytime soon"I said
"I can wait till you go"
"Meenu, obey me atleast now. There Malu and Dadu are alone. And I am not there. So you should be with them always."I insisted her and finally she agreed.

Thank God!!! I must celebrate this with crackers because she is obeying me. Note the sarcasm.

"Ok I will. But I need your address in Bangalore."she asked and I thought for a moment. I took out a paper and wrote the address of the hotel where we booked tickets. Surprisingly it was the original address where we are going to stay. I didn't want to lie to her one more time.

"See you after you come back. All the best Ram" she said.
I don't know why I felt a pain in my heart on the thought of staying away from her. She is going. Should I stop her?

Are you mad? Stop thinking rubbish.

I scolded my inner thoughts.
She started walking away and I was standing there looking at her without blinking my eyes. Suddenly she stopped and turned back one last time to see me. I smiled and she returned it back. With that she left and my smile faded away.

I was still looking at the path where she vanished when someone tugged me holding my shoulders.
"Wow..we are now free birds. We are going to rock now."I saw Daksh jumping in happiness with two air tickets in his hand.

I looked at the train tickets she gave me.
"Come we have to reach airport soon"he said
"We are going by train. Not by plane." I said and his face changed into a scowl. I wanted to chuckle seeing his expression.

"Why man? I am allergetic to train journey. It's not hygienic."he gave a disgusted expression.

I snatched the tickets from him and tear off it into two halves before throwing away. He was shocked.

Within this time the train to Bangalore reached our platform. There was a big crowd waiting there for the same train. He was scared seeing it while I took our luggage.

"Hey man, tell me atleast the reason why you changed your decision?"he asked while following me inside the train.

"Because aeroplanes will cause air pollution. I don't want our air to pollute because of us."I said and he looked at me with opened mouth.

I chuckled at my own reason while taking a window seat. He sat opposite to me.
"Next time I will request the pilot to drive the plane through water for you."he said in an effort to tease me.
But I rolled my eyes at him making him laugh.

The train was almost packed and I can't stop giggling seeing poor Daksh's scared look. He is very much afraid about large crowds. When more people entered, he tightly held my arm.
"Dont worry. I will take care of you. You wouldn't be lost in this crowd." I said controlling my laugh.
"Get lost man" he shouted.

The train started moving and he sent disgusted looks to all sides. But I was really enjoying this journey.

After a few stations, crowd started reducing and our bogie almost became empty except us. He sat relaxed. But a smile was not leaving my face seeing him. He glared at me.

"Like Shahjahan built Taj Mahal for Mumtaz, here someone is boycotting his aeroplane journey and travelling in train for his Meenakshi."

His comment made me widen my eyes. What the hell he is saying?

"What did you say?"I snarled at him.
"Dont shout. Do you think that your best friend can't see the changes in you?"he said shifting his concentration outside the window.

I smacked his head and he yelled.
"If you miss that devil, why are you showing your frustration on me?"he made me stood up. He held my hand and I again fall back on the seat. I sent murderous glares at him for his statements but as expected nothing from me can scare him.

My Meenakshi?
Stupid!!
Should I throw him out of this train??

He started giggling again.
"Not again."I shouted.

He was about to say something but I immediately covered his mouth before he speak rubbish.
"Dont tell about Meenakshi anymore. Leave that crazy girl."I said but a smile was playing in my lips thinking about her.

"Ok as per your request let's leave her for a while."
I sighed in relief hearing his words.
"What about talking about the other one?"he asked.
"Which one?"I was confused.
"Your fiancée man. What was her name? Yes.. Sarayu..Isn't it?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes at him. This time I want to punch him.

Damn it..I hate her!!!

"The moment you comes back, you are gonna get hitched with that make up box.."he started laughing.

I kicked hardly on his foot making him scream. I was angry since he mentioned her name.
He became silent for a few minutes. Then he again smiled slightly.

"Ok let me know whats her problem? I mean why can't you just marry her and settle down? After all she is your mom's choice."He said in an effort to know my mind.
I thought to share with him.

"Sarayu..she is not my type. Someone I can't adjust with. I can't think about living with her."I paused and he gestured me to continue.
"She is very artificial. I mean I didn't see her without any make up till now. How can we love someone without knowing the real person? She is a kind of girl who always spent time with friends, parties, pubs..no attachment with family. I hate those kind of people. You know it." I said and he nodded.

"I am not offended with her because she is like that. But I can't see her as my wife. She needs someone who can like her way of living. Not me.. seriously I can't love her or marry her."
I felt relieved after sharing my mind with him eventhough he already knows it.

"Then what kind of a girl you wants?"he asked seriously.
I started thinking and a smile occupied my lips.

"Someone who is simple and cute. Someone who can share my sorrows and understand me. Someone who can make me smile with her actions. Someone who is a family person. Someone who is living for not impressing anyone. Someone who is naughty too" I smiled at my thought.

But unknowingly Meenakshi's face came to my mind. I don't know why. I scolded myself.

"Then?"he asked.
"Someone who will do anything for their loved ones. Someone who is carefree but a caring person for others. Someone who can make me laugh.. someone.."

"Like Meenakshi?"he asked suddenly.
"Yes"
I widened my eyes realizing what I said unknowingly.

Oh God!!!
Why did I say yes?
Why her thoughts not leaving my mind?

I didn't have strength to look at his face. He might be laughing at me now. Its better now I jump out of this train instead of hearing his teases.
I slowly raised my head and surprisingly he was not laughing. Instead he is looking at me seriously.

"What?"I asked.
"Finally it came out of your mouth. That too without your knowledge. This is what we call speaking from heart."He have a genuine smile on his face now.

"It's not like that.. she is crazy.."I tried.
"That's what you want also. Didn't you say that you want someone who is carefree and naughty?"he asked and I thought. Yes, I told it. And she is exactly the same.

"You want someone who can make you happy. Dont you? And I start seeing you happy only after she came to your life. Not for others. But you were happy for yourself after meeting her."he said and I nodded. Because it's the truth.

"She made you laugh a lot Abhi. More than you ever laughed in your life, you laughed after she came to your life. Within this short span."he said.

Yes, she did. Literally I didn't think about my past after she entered into my life. She was making me happy and tension relieved each moment.

"She is so simple just like you want your girl to be. She is someone who is living each moment and I don't think she ever tried to impress anyone in her life. Her don't care attitude was the most special thing about her."he continued and I don't know where this conversation is going to.

"I want someone who is attached to family."I said.
"She is..she is living only for her family. Can you disagree? I saw how much shattered she was when Malu got ill. She loves everyone a lot. She will do anything for people whom she loves. You are the one who said this to me a lot of times."he said and I know it's true.

"She is really concerned for you too. You are also aware about it and you value it too. That's why you tear off the air tickets bought with your money and decided to travel by this train tickets which she bought from her hard earned money."

My eyes widened. Yes, she is always concerned about me. I didn't give extra care about it. But just a few hours ago when she walked away from me, I felt very sad. What is happening to me?

"You are in love Mr.Shahjahan."
He said and I narrowed my eyes at him.
He laughed.

"Only she can make you happy and only she could till now. Your smile is all result of her cute and tiny naughtiness. You can't disagree because thats the truth. Why can't you marry her Abhi?"
He asked making me speechless.

I sat like a statue for a few minutes looking at his face.
"Shut up."I yelled.
"She is the best girl I have ever seen in my life. She deserves the best man on this earth. And it's not me. I didn't think about her like that. She should be always happy. And I can't make her happy like she is doing with me."
I spoke from my heart.
But her face was making me confused too. He sighed.

"I think you are confused. Take your own time and find out what you actually wants."
He is right. I was confused. Confused about my own feelings.

"Just think about Meenakshi walking infront of you holding some other best man's hand. How do you feel?"he asked making me shocked.

I imagined it infront of my eyes. She is with another man. He is laughing at her jokes. He is smiling at her craziness. He is spending time with her like I do always. She is fighting with him and he is teasing her. She is irritating him and he is glaring at her.
They both are walking on road at mid night. Her hand in his arms.

"No.."I yelled. I felt a pain in my heart.

She is irritating someone other me. She is taking someone other than me with her for her craziness. She is fighting with someone else. She is forcing someone other to write imposition on Meenakshi is the most beautiful girl. No..I can't imagine it. She is pouring water on someone else's face to wake him up. She is punching someone else's chest. She is pulling someone else's face. And finally she is kissing someone on road. But it's not me.
That made me clench my fist.

"Getting jealous on a non existing man? Just for an imaginary scene. Then what about a real man taking your place in her life?"he asked and I felt lonely like I used to be before meeting her. If she is not with me then there is no Ram. Only that depressed sad and useless Abhiram will be there. I can't be that Abhi once again. I want to be her Ram only.

I didn't think like this before. I mean I am happy if she is moving on with a more eligible man. If he can keep her happy, I am ok with it. But again she is with another one. It makes me empty. What will be my life if she is not with me?

"Dont stress. May be you will take more time to realize your feelings. But never be late."he said and I looked at him with an opened mouth.

"Relax man. She is not going with anyone else. She is still yours." He said.

But my mind was not in peace. She is alone there. I am not there with her.
What if she takes another man with her for her crazy actions in my absence?

I dialled her number immediately. Daksh was laughing at me but now it doesn't matter for me.

"Ram are you ok?"
She attended the call immediately. Her voice conveys her worry for me.

"I am fine. I forgot to tell an important matter to you."I said and she asked me about it.
"Dont go out with anyone else till I come back. Listen. This world is full of danger especially for an innocent girl like you. Dont go near that fighting guys. They are dangerous. And ....and dont go out at midnight..After I come back, I will take you anywhere you want. But pls..take care of yourself. Dont believe anyone ok. I will be back soon."
With that I ended the call.

"Dont worry she is not going to be anyone's. But you have to realize your feelings."Daksh said.

"I didn't think about her like that till now" I said.
"It's ok. There is a lot of time still remaining. But one thing, I always want you to see like this. A smiling happy Ram. It's you who have to find your happiness now. It's your job to find out the reason of your happiness and decide whether to retain that happiness or not. "he said and I smiled.

"And for me, you are the best man on earth any girl can think off" he winked at me.

With that he closed his eyes falling into a deep sleep. I was still stucked in middle of so many thoughts. One thing Daksh said is right. It will take time to realize my feelings and what I want. I decided to give that time to my heart and slowly realize my feelings. I need to analyse myself. Because I don't want to take a wrong decision that can cause two lives. Especially hers. She is so precious.

I smiled thinking about her worried face that she shown when I said about leaving.
*****
Precap: The Knock of Love.

Did anyone realize the change in Abhiram's behavior? Do you feel that a small part of Meenakshi's craziness now transferred to Abhi too?