Chapter 8

What the hell did just happen?

I swear, till now I had never ever in my life been so scared of anything or anyone, and not even my parents.

But,

Man if you have a gang of friends with you, and yes with the best mind, must I add, then somewhere in our life we would feel this dread.

"Dude you are being intimidated by Arohi." Raghav pointed out. I just glared at him and kept doing what I have been doing since the last 20 min .

PACING IN MY OFFICE CABIN

When my secretary came to give us our coffee her face was mind blowing, and obviously she would ... In fact my whole office was looking at me as if I have got an extra head.

But for that, all thanks goes to that girl named Arohi Kadam.

When I answered her call half an hour ago when I and Raghav had reached my office she said "Arjun, come at my place, sharp at six." With a stern voice may I add.

And before I could even say anything ahead she disconnected the call leaving me in dread, only with a thought that she hasn't forgiven me yet, and the punishment which we had got on Abha's and vihan's engagement was a nightmare for me.

And since then this stupid friend of mine has not stopped laughing and for me I have been trying to make sure that the clock doesn't struck 6 by changing the timings of all the clocks in the whole building .

Ting ting ting

I looked up at the clock to find out that it's 12 in noon. But actually I don't know what time it is .

I huffed and again started to pace around in my cabin.

"by you pacing around over here only one thing is going to happen and that's loosing weight , and man you are quite fit, so come lets go it already 5 pm , this stupid trick of yours is not going to work ." raghav said and before I could even say anything he dragged me out of my office giving a new shock to the secretary and the marketing team who had come with us in India , who had never seen this side of me.

"Arjun, any idea why she called us all here?" it was my mom this time .

It's been half an hour that we all have gathered over including our parents, and since then Raghav has been telling my embarrassing story to everyone, and just to tease me more everyone is coming here and asking me the same question

"Arjun, any idea why she called us all here?"

I glared at my mom who was trying to suppress her laughter but couldn't do it for long as, as soon as she saw me glaring she started laughing and since everyone was now highlighted with my story, seeing my reaction even they all started laughing.

I shook my head and was about to go when I heard a voice which made my anxiety vanish only to be replaced by a warm feeling , which I used to feel long back as if it's back again.

"Sorry everyone, actually at the last moment I had to attend a patient , hey buddy how's you ??"

Arohi said to everyone and then went and sat beside shiv, Aisha and vidhur, who were busy painting god knows what.

But God should I say she looked so good, I just want to go and grab her and keep hugging her and never let her go.

"So how was your day?" My dad asked

"It was good, more patient and the kids as usual were handful." She said, shrugging .

"kids ?" my mom asked

"ya aunty, actually the hospital has got a new investor who has opened a new ward specially for heart and cancer patient kids, it's a handful to handle them but it's more painful to know that the kids have big dreams , dreams to go way long but very less number of days with them ... Some do have a chance or two but then they don't have that much money for the treatment. Well other than hopes we and they don't have anything." She looked very sad .

"So haven't you guys thought anything about it?" Raghav asked.

"We did, actually we need a financer you know kind of charity worker who would help out with this thing like we are planning to have charity programmes for them where people would donate a huge amount for them, but then its just planning, and the excecution is still left."

There was a peaceful silence for sometime, maybe everyone was feeling the same pain which I was feeling .

"So why were you all laughing?" Arohi asked

Which made everyone laugh, me wanting to bang my head somewhere and for her to look at everyone with a confused expression .

"actually ..."before Rhea could tell the whole repeat telecast I interrupted her.

"Arohi, why did you asked all of us to come here?" To which I did succeed as everyone was eager to know the answer to that question.

"ummm Arjun, it's your last and biggest punishment ." she said and went inside the kitchen .

What the hell???

She could have completed her sentence and then went inside.

"All the best dude." Vihan said.

"vihan whatever happens you are going to stay with me right?" I said

He gave a nod and when Arohi came back in the leaving room, I tried to explain it to her and to apologise to her, but she cut me off and said

"Aunty ,uncle , Abhinav , Arjun , and you missy " she looked at all of us, when she was sure that we all had her undivided attention she continued.

"Since you all left us without giving us any prior notice we all have decided to give you all a small punishment."

We were shocked that everyone knew what this was all about.

"And what is it?" I asked, fear evident in my voice.

I heard kabeer stuffing his laughter but became serious when Arohi glared at him.

"So it's been seven years that we have been together, before this we have been doing everything together, every festival , everyone's birthday, everyone's success everything but not for the last seven years so why not celebrate all things again together." She said.

"We all know that Arohi what do you want to say?" my mom asked.

"Aunty what Arohi means to say is that it has been a long time that we have celebrated festivals together, so let's do it together again just like old times."Abha explained.

"yes aunty all festivals starting from .." Ragahv pipped in but was intrupted by Aisha

"raksha ba ba badan" which made us all laugh, soon it increased more when shiv said "no I don't have money to give it to you and we all are friends and only you will get gifts we won't get anything."

"okay champ no rakshabandhan , princes we'll do something else." Arohi consoled them as they gave a understanding nod and waited eagerly looking at our elders which sat there looking at us with blank expression.

"ohh thank God it's just this, you scared me, that's a great idea." I said and stood up and went to hug Arohi but she stepped aside and said "Not so soon mister it's you who is going to do all the arrangement all alone, how you are going to do it is up to you."

I relaxed a bit as I knew that soon she was going to forgive me. These festivals had once made us friends and I am sure they will be solving reasons to mend my friendship with her.

"So what do you all think?" Vihan asked our parents.

"It's a wonderful idea but what shall we start with ." Arohi's mom asked the most sensible question .

And since for a change girls were talking sensible things today Misha said

"How about Ganpati?"

To which all the ladies beamed with happiness.

"Okay then Ganpati is it then, GANPATI BAPPA" MY dad’s voice boomed throughout the mansion.

To which we all replied in unison

"MORYA."