Chapter 4 Half truths

Arjun knew now, he was in deep trouble and didn't really have a choice other than telling the truth; if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that Manya could forgive and forget everything but she couldn't tolerate being lied to.

*Besides, what was the worst that could happen, when she had already forgotten about him and had been addressing a stranger as her 'best friend', a title gladly held by him in the past. He was already on the edge...*

Arjun was getting consumed by his thoughts once again, when he was brought back to reality by Ishaan's voice. "What do you mean he has been hiding the truth, have you guys met already? I don't remember setting up a meeting for the two of you without me... No, let me rephrase it- You don't know him, right? And he hasn't told you his identity..I'm lost, can somebody please clue me in?"

Manya slapped him lightly on the back of his head and started saying, "Yeah, everybody can explain but before that you need to zip your mouth shut! How is anybody supposed to say anything if you keep talking? Take a breath sometimes while talking- it's really essential and beneficial both, I hope you know this..."

"Ahm ahm! Look who's talking! The person who has been spilling whatever is coming to her mind for the last few minutes, and yet we are waiting for some answers...", Ishaan retorted with a cocky smirk.

Manya finally snapped at him, "Yeah, sta 'zitto! I was going to tell you that only...Oggi ho incontrato un incidente-"

["Yeah,shut up! I was going to tell you that only...Today, I met with an accident-"]

She was still mid-sentence when Arjun saw Ishaan panicking and shaking her body, looking all over as if to confirm she was okay, while he was still trying to decipher what she had said in a foreign language.

*She can forget everything but she has still mastered yet another language..she used to love learning new languages- brilliance and intelligence was present in her genes...*

He thought and smiled to himself, but that smile didn't last much longer when he saw Ishaan, still holding her and looking at her face with concern.

Although Arjun wanted to punch him in the face for some strange reason, he controlled his anger and decided to put an end to this by narrating the whole story himself.

"Actually, let me tell you what happened this morning," he started with a smile. The boy knew his smile was really magnificent and could capture anybody's attention. "I was out cycling in the morning and we... had a small accident, I guess. But she really is a good driver, I was not hurt; but my bike was!

So she offered to compensate me for it, till then I wasn't aware that she worked for ARMA's, so I didn't mention it. But then, she asked me to come and collect the compensation from ARMA's, and I thought I would tell her in the office itself; as I was going to reveal my identity to her, you came in and here we are now..."

Even as he was finishing the story, he was cursing himself internally, for not telling the complete truth. He didn't really know why he was still hiding it : did he want her to remember on her own, or did he want to observe this new Manya first, for he still had some fear lurking in his mind that she might not feel the same for him- what he was even thinking about...feelings??! She didn't even remember him....not his face... not his name... anything related to him....how could he be so naive that the question of her feelings for him even came up in his mind!? What was he thinking all these years...Why would she have been waiting for him...What the hell was going on with him!

He shook his head angrily, almost forgetting that there were still two sets of eyes fixed on him. Both Ishaan and Manya were surprised by his behaviour : Manya was amused at how someone could be so lost in his own thoughts- it almost seemed as if there was a fight going inside his head, with an Angel and the Devil advocating for their motivations, just like in the movies. And Ishaan was surprised by Arjun Chauhan's demeanor.

It was the first time he had met somebody who was totally opposite from his research. Ishaan didn't believe in conducting business without thorough research on the people involved: he might have settled in Milan, but had his roots deep down in India. Ishaan had learnt the ethics of business from his beloved grandfather, who always used to mention that a businessman should have a calm bearing and he must not reveal his thoughts, dilemma or emotions in front of anybody; especially in front of his partners or rivals.

Ishaan had always been amazed at how Arjun Chauhan seemed to have all the qualities of his grandfather's narrations. But this was a totally different version of Arjun Chauhan he was witnessing, so different from their video conferences as well!

Everybody was stuck in their own dilemmas and they all were jolted back to reality by Ishaan's assistant, who had just arrived with all the stuff required for the completion of the order, for which Manya had driven 7 kilometres and almost killed a person.

After coming to his senses, the first thing Arjun did was put on his usual mask of a stoic businessman on his face. He stretched out his hand to Ishaan and said cordially, "Hello Mr. Arena, it's really nice to meet you in person. I am really looking forward to this collaboration, but before that we still have some pending files to sign. I hope you don't mind that, I shall have someone from my staff contact your assistant."

"Of course, Mr. Chauhan", Ishaan said, shaking his hands very amicably. He was about to say something but Arjun had had enough of the suspense and cutting him midway, blurted out, "I hope you don't mind me asking... but why did you just mention that tomorrow is the worst day for Min- I mean, Ms. Manya"

Ishaan was still making heads or tails of such a question from Arjun, when their conversation was interrupted once again, this time by Manya. It seemed like this was the only way the three of them had conversed so far, via barging in on each other.

"Mr. Arjun Chauhan, don't you think this question is way too personal? Apart from that, I am not your employee; I am the head designer at ARENA's, and I'm here just for one project. I don't think we are obligated to provide any answers!"

While she was replying, indignant, Ishaan had been panicking at her abrupt arrogance, and strangely enough, Arjun had started smiling.

*So she has not changed one bit!*

He tried to control his laughter but failed.

He laughed out loud and finally began, "You dumbass! How can you forget me? I am Arjun, duffer! Juno! How is Messo- oh yes, yes...you will correct me and say she is 'Maasi'? And Sia? Maenu- I mean your 'mumma' and 'daddy'? Where have you been all these years?

And dumbo, have you actually forgotten your birthday as well? How can Minni the Great, who was born a perfectionist, be so silly! Tell me, what are you waiting for...?"

He was saying all this, laughing, thinking everything was going to be fine after this. But when he finally looked up to see Manya, she was standing weakly, holding her head with her one hand. Ishaan also noticed that and started toward her, but before either of them could understand anything, she had fainted... in Ishaan's arms.

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* xyz * = Thoughts of character who has been recently referenced

[ xyz ] = translation of a dialogue from Italian to English