Apulki Chapter 12 – Mud, Missed Cabs and a Misadventure
- Hansa
- Feb 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 12
Recap Chapter 11: Yamini reels from a harsh audition rejection, but Akash boosts her morale with a surprise portfolio shoot. In Pune, Neerav’s effortless charm, cooking skills, and candid humour win over the Sharmas, leaving Isha increasingly frustrated as her plan to derail the wedding collapses.
Not Everything Brewing Comes in a Cup
Isha nodded briefly at Akash and Yamini, her phone still glued to her ear, and stepped out of the coffee shop.
Yamini looked down at the photographs in her hand again, smiling to herself.“You’re a brilliant photographer.”
“I know,” Akash said easily.
She looked up at him, narrowing her eyes.“You give everyone the impression that you’re this lazy, laid-back guy. But there’s more to you than meets the eye.”
“Really?”
“You have big dreams.”
“Well,” Akash said thoughtfully, “since I sleep so much…”
“Oh come on,” Yamini said. “Be serious.”
“I have so many dreams, it’ll take me two or three lifetimes to fulfil all of them.”
“Don’t be stingy,” she said. “Why just two or three? Take all seven of your lives.”
They laughed. Their eyes met. Something lingered, just a second longer than necessary.
At that exact moment, Isha walked back in, and both of them quickly looked away.
“That was Neerav,” Isha announced. “The engagement date has been fixed.”
Yamini and Akash congratulated her warmly. Isha thanked them, her smile lagging a beat behind.
Rain Has Opinions and Cabs Have Boundaries
A few days later, Neerav stood outside the very same coffee shop, checking his watch, lips pursed. Akash and Isha ran up to him.
“Finally you’re here,” he said.
“The traffic was horrible,” Isha said, flashing him her most innocent puppy-dog eyes.
“Okay, okay. Drop the act,” Neerav said. “Where’s Yammu?”
“She said she’ll come on her own,” Akash replied. “Had to go to the beauty parlour.”
Neerav stared at him. “Ishu’s getting engaged, and Yammu’s gone to the parlour?”
“Yup.”
“Makes perfect sense,” Neerav muttered. “Anyway, let’s go. If we don’t get a cab in the next ten minutes, we’ll never reach Pune by seven.”
They started walking towards the taxi stand just as it began to rain.
Neerav opened his umbrella and held it over Isha and himself. Then he glanced over his shoulder.
Akash was far behind, happily clicking pictures of absolutely nothing in particular.
Neerav leaned closer to Isha, attempting a kiss. She pulled back. At that moment, a strong gust of wind sent the umbrella flying.
Neerav ran after it.
A car zoomed past, splashing Isha from head to toe in muddy water.
“What the—” she hissed, cursing the driver under her breath.
By the time they reached the taxi stand, the rain had stopped. But none of the taxi drivers were willing to take them to Pune.
The three of them stood there, baffled, waiting for another cab to appear.
“See,” Isha said, “this is why I was saying we should’ve gone on my Kawasaki. Akash could’ve come with Yammu.”
“By the time we reached Pune,” Neerav said dryly, “you’d have been bathed in mud.”
“Like I’m not already?” she snapped. “Maybe this is a sign. To call off the engagement.”
“Don’t be a chicken,” Neerav said. “Fear is like heart disease. Like a blocked valve—”
The word heart disease hit Isha like a slap. She turned pale and stared at him.
“The more you think about it,” he continued, oblivious, “the more it gnaws at you. Think about something else. Like… what a good mum you’ll be.”
“But I hate kids.”
“We’ll have so much fun with our four kids,” Neerav said cheerfully. “You’ll have to sell your bike and buy a family car.”
“But I love my bike.” By now Isha was getting more and more agitated. She could already see it – nappies, midnight feeds, deadlines slipping through her fingers while Neerav slept like a log. One baby and poof, bye-bye work, bye-bye career.
“You can drive the kids to Pune every weekend to meet their grandparents... Instead of waiting for stupid cabs.”
Right on cue, a taxi pulled up.
Akash leaned into the open window.“Brother, Pune?”
“Hop in,” the driver said.
A short while later, the taxi driver asked them to get out of the cab.
Isha, Neerav and Akash stepped out and looked around, utterly confused.
They were standing outside Chimboli police station.
“What kind of joke is this?” Neerav demanded.
The taxi driver pointed at the building.“Go inside. And don’t try to be smart.”
Inside, one policeman was busy on the phone while another motioned them to sit.
How to Miss an Engagement Without Even Trying
Neerav’s phone rang. It was his father.
“Son, I hope you’re on your way,” Mr Banerjee’s voice boomed.
“Umm… not yet.”
“Where are you then?”
“At a police station.”
“Police station?” Mr Banerjee exploded. “I knew it. What else could I expect from my good-for-nothing son?”
“Baba, chill,” Neerav said. “We’ll be there on time.”
He switched off the phone.
The policeman hung up his call and looked at them. It was the same policeman who had returned Isha’s pan.
“Yes?” he asked. “What can I do for you?”
Isha stared at him. “Tum? Matlab… aap?”
“Have we met before?” he asked, then snapped his fingers. “Ah. Phat-phatti waali.”
The taxi driver pointed dramatically at them.“They’re the three lads you were looking for. Arrest them. And give me my reward.”
“What three lads?” Akash asked.
“I’ll drink your blood,” Neerav glared at the cabbie.
The taxi driver quickly hid behind the policeman.“See how violent they are?”
The policeman pointed at Isha.“You don’t know the difference between a boy and a girl?”
He smacked the taxi driver on the head.“How many pints have you had?”
Then to the constable, “Lock him up. Drink driving.”
The constable dragged the taxi driver away by his collar.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” Neerav said. “We’re getting engaged tonight and need to reach Pune ASAP.”
“Make other arrangements,” the policeman said. “No cabbie’s taking you anywhere today. They’re shit scared.”
“Of what?” Isha asked.
“Three young lads hired a taxi last night,” the policeman said grimly. “Killed the driver, threw him out, and drove off.”
Neerav and Isha exchanged a look.
“No wonder,” Neerav muttered.
“Now?” Isha asked helplessly.
The policeman looked at her. “Where’s your phat-phatti? You’d have reached by now on that.”
Isha turned to Neerav.“Told you.”
Neerav sighed.
Akash stretched out on a bench, folded his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes.“Let’s just sleep here tonight. We’ll think about it tomorrow.”
Neerav and Isha glared at him.
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Chapter 10 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-10
Chapter 11 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-11
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phat-phatti wali 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 'well my dreams are many as i sleep so much' could he have been more plainer 🤣 loved this chapter 'There is more to you than meets the eye' soo good. Im almost sure we would get more about akash and now yammu and akash have striked a cord together. lovely.
Wow this chapter went places i didn't even expect it was amazing
First off i really like your mini titles for segments in your chapter. I've never seen it being done in other stories i read this is so cool.
Coming to the chapter it was really nice.....i was wondering why the cab driver allowed them inside the cab even after Isha's state but them landing up in police station was unexpected....lol three innocent people becoming murder suspects is this a sign from the universe for Isha to call off the wedding? 🤣
I loved this twist cause it was a nice reflection of real life where anything and everything can happen without logic and reason. Idk why but this…
Ha adventures and misadventures
Neerav dreaming about 4 kids
Cabbie confused
Ho kya Raha hai
U know what with every chapter i feel we are getting clue for ahead. But it stumps me always.
Waiting for next chapter