Azure here with the next chapter in the story. I hope you like it. Thanks so much for your support so far.
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Ria Khanna – Ragini
Shiv Kapoor – Sanskar
Lav Khanna – Laksh
Shikha Lav Khanna – Swara
Sharad Khanna – Shekhar
Jaya Khanna – Janki
Deepak Kapoor – DP
Aarti Kapoor – AP
Arun Kapoor – Adarsh
Preeti Kapoor – Parineeta
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Ria took a deep breath. “Girish, is there another car or taxi that I can get?” Ria asked Girish, deciding not to break her head fighting with Shiv.
“I don’t think we can get anything right now, Ma’am. Because of bad traffic all through this road, it will be tough for any taxi to get through” Girish said apologetically “I will drop you off. It will be no problem” he assured her again.
If only Girish could understand the reason for her apprehension in taking lift from him. She stood there for a second, pondering over her options. She even thought of asking him how far this hotel was, so that she could walk there if needed.
“Unbelievable! I am blo*dy stuck here again, thanks to lady Dracula!” Shiv muttered, loud enough for Ria to hear it. “Girish, are we going to stay here permanently? Let’s go. I guess it is just us.” he commented
“Ma’am” Girish called out to her, almost in a tentative manner, trying to understand what she wanted done.
Ria sighed and then got into the rear seat of the car.
“Wow! Finally, a decision. Wrong one of course! But at least a decision” Shiv muttered
“Girish, there is a lot of noise in this car. Is there some broken record here?” Ria asked with a quirk of her eyebrow.
Girish was intelligent enough to realize that he had landed himself between two hostile people. He stayed silent and focused on getting them to the hotel as fast as he could. The things he had to do as part of customer service!
“A broken record at least plays” Shiv commented “You on the other hand are an indecisive cassette player who does even know which side to play”
“A cassette player is at least a decision maker, the broken record is only suitable for one place though, the garbage bin!” Ria shot at him
“And a useless cassette player has only one place, scrap yard” Shiv threw back at her.
“We are here!” Girish cut in quickly, catching them both off guard
“Girish, is there some way I can replay you for your help?” Ria asked, after he had handled her the bag
“Please Ma’am. Don’t worry. This was on my way home. It was no extra effort” He added with a pleasant smile
“If there is ever anything that I can do to help, please do call me” Ria told him, thankful for everything he was doing out of the way for her
Shiv slid a 1000 rupee note into Girish’s pocket
“Sir” Girish asked tentatively
“It is just sweets for the kids. Give it to temple if you don’t want it” Shiv told him with kindly voice, before patting his shoulder.
Girish seemed unsure for a second, before he broke into a bright smile as he looked at Shiv.
After Girish left, Shiv made his way into the hotel.
“Wait!” Ria called out
Shiv stopped for a second, turning back “Calling me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ria walked towards him “Here” she said handing him a 500-rupee note
“What is this?” Shiv asked looking at her hand
“This is for the money you gave Girish” Ria commented
“If you couldn’t pay him yourself, that is not my problem” Shiv said before turning away
“I don’t slid notes in the someone’s pockets” Ria commented
“So? It is not my problem. Learn it” Shiv said with a shrug of his shoulder.
Ria was really annoyed by now. She pulled Shiv’s hand as he turned away again. She stepped up to him, opened his leather jacket pocket and shoved the 500 note in it, before stomping away.
“What the hell!” Shiv exclaimed, feeling very annoyed as he followed her inside
“I want to book a room for the night” Ria told the receptionist at the front desk.
Even before the receptionist could answer, Shiv got there
“What the f**k is this?” Shiv asked, throwing the 500-rupee note in front of her, on the reception desk
“This is my share of the tip” Ria said primly
“Give him your own tip. And I am not your flunky for you to shove notes in my pocket” Shiv spat angrily “Touch me again and I will break your delicate wrist” he warned her
“What can be expected from an uncivilized person like you! Violence is all you know” Ria shot at him
“And what can be expected from a disrespectful girl like you! Insults is all you know” Shiv retorted
“You!” Ria said clenching her fists.
“Ma’am, we just have one room left” the receptionist cut it
“I will take it” Shiv said quickly
“What! How can you take it? I came here first. I will take it” Ria informed him
“Too bad! You were late. I confirmed it first!” Shiv said with a victorious smile.
“That is not how it works!” Ria exclaimed
“Yes it does!” Shiv shot at her, before turning to the receptionist “How much advance do you need?” he asked her
Receptionist looked confused and stared between them
“Don’t take his money. This is my room” Ria warned the receptionist
“Only in your dreams!” Shiv said
“Excuse me” a feeble voice said from behind them
They turned to look at an old couple who must have been in their 80s for sure. They stepped aside a bit for the couple to go to the reception desk, where they seemed headed.
“We needed a room” the old man told the receptionist
“I am sorry sir” the receptionist said with an apologetic look on her face “The last room is taken by them” she said looking at Shiv and Ria, still confused as to who among them had the room.
“Give the room to them” Shiv told her, looking at the old couple
“Hello! How can you give a room that is not yours to give?” Ria shot at him, before turning the receptionist “Give the room to them” she told her.
The receptionist looked between them, confused “So I can give the room to them?” she asked again
“Yes!” both said together
“Don’t copy me!” Ria shot at him
“Argghh!” Shiv exclaimed. He felt like pulling his hair out. This girl was as annoying as he remembered her to be. Beautiful. But annoying.
“Can you see if there is any room available for tomorrow morning? I will need it just for a few hours to freshen up before I leave” Shiv asked the receptionist after the couple had left.
“There will be some” receptionist assured him even as the bell boy stored his bags for the time being
“I need one too!” Ria added quickly
“Figures!” Shiv said rolling his eyes
Ria humphred before turning to the receptionist, who nodded her head, assuring Ria of a room as well.
With that sorted, both walked towards the sofa which was in the reception area. Their only solace and shelter for the night.
Shiv saw the sofa and rushed towards it, almost jumping on it, stretching his legs along its length
“Idiot” Ria muttered before sitting on the lounge chair next to it. She had bigger troubles brewing back home, like explaining how she was stranded here, than to worry about the idiot in front of her. She knew there was only one way out if. Lie! She hated it. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And this was as desperate a time as she thought was likely.
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Links to previous chapters
https://www.tellyupdates.com/?s=pride+vs+prejudice+%28RagSan%29