Mirage Calls

Slowly she enters the empty room, in search of some clue . Sweat gathering on her forehead, hands trembling to switch the light on chill running down the spine she went towards the drawer, as she was about to open it, she felt someone's presence in the room, unable to decide whether to leave or to continue the search she took a step behind towards the exit but.. she was late! from the corner of her eye she saw the shadow crawling towards her slowly.. and a rough voice called out, MRIHA!! MRIHA!! OH My Lord! OH! Mriha jumped out on her place.Come down here NOW! Mriha's elder sister Nila called out.What in the world do she wants from me now? Mriha marched down the hall. What DO you want? Did you scared me on purpose?

What? What are you talking about? Did I tell you to dig into those horrible horror books?

AND would you mind to tell me where are those heels I bought last week for the party?

Which heels?

Don't You Dare to pretend Mriha!

Okay!! okay! actually I wore them to my promotion party the day before yesterday.

AND!!

And while coming home it started raining and I started running then accidentally I broke it.

WHAT ??WHY? Why in the world do you take my stuffs ? MOM!! MOM!

Here goes our Barbie, I should start packing my stuffs, thank to God that I got transferred to the other branch office and finally I'm moving out of this house. Now I'll be the free bird, not that I won't miss everyone here but I'll be enjoying my freedom too.

Mriha was working with an advertising company and she will be staying with her friend Jaipur as the company's branch office is in Jaipur.

This is my last week in Pune and I want to spend good quality time with my friends and family, I think I should start with Mom.

Mriha went to the kitchen where her mother was preparing some Farrar, Sweets and Pickles she can take along with her to the new place. Maa! what are you doing?

I'm preparing these for you to take along.

hmm! we can do this together later Maa, let's go sit in the garden and have some Chai. I'll do it for us okay Maa.

Ah! Some Chai will be refreshing dear. Let's go sit together. Nila you should come too.

Sure Mom, hope she doesn't put salt instead of sugar in the Chai ! Said Nila

Hah ! WHATEVER ! just have my Chai then tell miss barbie.

Mriha took the tea pot and cups to the garden area where her mother and Nila were already seated . Her mother was deep in thoughts.

Maa. Mriha called out to her mother.

What are you thinking ?

Nothing dear, is the Chai a little strong?

Of course Maa. Even I like the same.

Mriha served Chai and was enjoying her Mother's and Sister's company, gossiping about their childhood and other talks, the time seems to have passed soon.

Mriha! Her mother said.

I wanted to tell you about something for a long time, but never felt like a right time, but today I think as you are finally moving out, I should tell this to you.

Maa ? What is it?

I Knew It !

What ? her mother asked.

What do you know Mriha?

It's Nila ... She's adopted .

Laughter bursting out of her mother as Nila was about to burst out of anger.. Mriha started dancing from the victory of teasing the time passed out .

It's the day Mriha should take the flight of 10 am Mriha was accompanied by Nila and her Mother to the airport.

Mriha ! dear take care of yourself there and please be a little responsible. We will be good here if you will be safe there.

I will Maa.. don't worry. Neha will be with me you don't worry.She hugged her mother and sister for a longer than usual. Mriha ! her mother called. There is something I wanted to tell you but couldn't find the courage to tell this.

What Mom?

Mriha this is not the time I know but you should keep in mind that dont keep anything from us,we should know every single person you meet cause people are not always the same as they show us.

Stay in touch with Nehas family. You must be wondering why am I saying such things, but please keep these things in mind I'll tell you everything once we come to visit you there.

They bid goodbyes and Mriha hurried to catch the flight .

The flight landed on Jaipur Airport, Mriha preparing to check out, lot's of thoughts clouded her mind when she bumped hard into someone.

She was taken aback from the sudden event.

What !

Oh ! I'm so sorry. She looked up to see the person she's talking to, Mriha stopped on her track when she saw him, the woody smell of his Cologne, the intense brown eyes, sharp jawline as if she was hypnotized .

Mriha !

A deep voice called out taking Mriha back to her senses.

Oh ! I'm so sorry I bumped into you .Wait ! did you called my name? Mriha said.

You don't seem to be sorry. A lady appeared by his side and said.

Excuse me? I said I'm sorry.

The lady approached, and said, "if you say so. Shall we Mr.Allard."

Of course.

The man said, and they went towards the exit together.

How rude of them. What do she thinks of herself.

Such a rude lady.

Mriha took the exit to be welcomed by her childhood friend Neha and her handsome brother Dev, on whome once Mriha had crush on.

She was delighted to meet them as they too were.

Welcome o Jaipur Mriha said Dev .

Thank you Dev . You seem to be grown-up huh!

Oh come on you two don't start today itself we have a lifetime for that said Neha.

Come on guys let's go Mom and Dad is waiting for you Mriha.

Mriha was welcomed with warm hugs and delicious traditional lunch .

Mriha we are glad that you will stay with us please feel like home here you are just like Neha to us dear.

Thank you Uncle and Aunty.

Now go upstairs and get some rest we have arranged your room next to Neha . See you at dinner.

Neha what a superb colony you guys stay in. You have a beautiful apartment I must say.

Don't exaggerate dear your house is beautiful too you are just bored dear just like you get bored by your stuffs and start liking mine HA HA.

So tell me how is Aunty and Nila ?

All good dear. Mom was a bit tensed about this shifting.

And how was you journey ?

Mriha fill every details about her journey from Pune to Jaipur Airport till home.

Hmm ! so what do you think they were couples or that dude was single?

What? Why would say this? And why should I even bother except the guy was a Greek God ! But how do he know my name? Or was I mistaken.

I think you were day dreaming. Said Neha.

KNOCK.. KNOCK..

Mriha !

Dev ! come on in.

Yes Dev come on in ! ! said Neha in a playful voice.

Dev came in like a gentleman. Mriha observed him , he was nothing like before, but has become more handsome more gentle from the past days.

He met Mriha with a friendly hug .

Mriha was overwhelmed to get back to her childhood friends.

The day passes with joy and laughter .

The following day Mriha was exploring her huge room when she decided to open the window on the other side. She went near the window which had Jaipuri carvings on it. She opened it and took out her phone to take some pictures of the carvings when something caught her attention to the other side of the window . Someone was standing on the window of the bungalow to other side of the colony street, tall figure, wheatish complexion, some what similar, he was looking straight at Mriha. Mriha couldn't recognize the person from distance, she waited for a while when suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder Mriha turned, to find out its Neha.

Oh ! it's you. Neha ! can you tell me who lives there . Mriha showed the house.

What happened Mriha? What is with this sudden interest in the next door? Come we are getting late besides I want to go shopping with you first I will show you the Jaipuri market then we have dinner plan with Dev and his friend.

And who's this lucky guy who could make you blush Neha !!

Mohan. Neha said softly.

He and Dev are friend since college days. But I have not confessed my feelings to him till. But I will definitely tell him someday. Come we are getting late . Neha went of the room to get ready.

It was a fine evening when Mriha and Neha were finishing off with the shopping in Johari Bazar one of the famous shopping Street in Jaipur which Neha wanted to show Mriha. The shopping streets were decorated by the shop's on both the sides, crowd of tourists and locals together was a sign of the Bazar's fame, Everything is painted orange and terracotta. This is said to be the oldest market area in Jaipur. Here you will find exquisite Jaipuri jewellery made of gold, silver, diamonds and emeralds.

The girls were enjoying their time, when someone called out Mriha.

Mriha stopped on her track and turned back but couldn't see anyone.

Neha ! did you here it? Someone called my name .

Who? Asked Neha.

There is no one here , see.

Hmm. I think I'm a bit tired. let's move Dev must be waiting for us. They were about to leave when someone came out of nowhere and stood in front of her Mriha.

Woah !!

The girls stood firm holding hands .

Who are you ? Asked Neha.

Look don't you dare to misbehave I'm a local here .

The person does not seem to notice Neha as his attention was on Mriha.

Wait ? I think I know you from somewhere. Said Mriha.

Aren't you the same person I bumped into in the air port?

Yes. He replied in a deep voice. A voice, very easy to fall in love with, that auditory caramel .

For a second Mriha lost herself into those two intense eyes, it is when Neha shook her hard , coming back to her senses she realized that she was gawking at him.

See, I said sorry to you, then what's the matter. it was a simple accident nothing intentional.

We need to talk. Said the person.

What ? Why ? Asked Mriha.

Mriha ! let's go from here . Neha said with an angry voice.

No ! "please stay, I don't mean to hurt you" said the man . please hear me out once Mriha.

Mriha was so confused by the situation that she couldn't even move .

Mriha you know me . Whatever I have to say, it's about us Mriha .Just hear me out once.

Mriha couldn't decide what to do suddenly the girl from airport appeared from nowhere. Her slender figure, bright flawless skin with a fine attitude was no less than a magazine model, she held the man's hand. She said, "let's go dear she doesn't seem to remember you, didn't I tell you".For Mriha's surprise that person accompanied her without a second word and they vanished within seconds from their eyesight.

Huh ??

What was that all about Mriha ?

I have no idea Neha !! common! you know me and everything about me. Do you think I'll hide something from you Neha.Tell me it was not one of yours and Dev's prank.

NO !!

Mriha, I was so scared. They were like something else. From where do they even appear? If you don't know them then how do they know you? And see it dint take a second for them to disappear. I'm telling you something is not right about them.

With this strange encounter Mria and Neha left the Johari Bazar's street, so many thoughts clouded in her mind, her Mom's concern, this strange encounter with the same person, everything was so strange and confusing.

Mriha left to meet Dev leaving everything behind so that she could get some quality time before joining office.

When reaching the hotel for dinner Neha introduced her to Shyam , she was practically blushing in front of Shyam and smiling like a fool for no reason. Dev was also there, he greeted Mriha with his enigmatic smile.

So how was you day ladies ? asked Dev.

We enjoyed the day, said Mrihav . What about you Dev what is this sudden plan about.

Shyam gave a sly smile looking deep into Mriha's eyes, he took Mriha's hands into his and said Mriha ! since we know each other since childhood a thought came across my mind, just wanted your opinion.

What Dev? aAsked Mriha.

Mriha I like you since many years , but could not gather courage to tell you , i realized it when we shifted here, this is the reason I never had a serious girlfriend, cause no one made me feel like you do Mriha. When I heard that you will be shifting here, I decided not to waste more time, and ask you...

Mriha !! will you date me .

Mriha was speechless by the sudden proposal .

Neha was awestruck by the proposal.

Shyam seemed to have been Dev's partner in crime.

With these unpredictable events Mriha's new life seems to have become like a see saw in Jaipur.