Chapter 11

10. One Person At A Time

'You're a selfish woman,' his father accused his mother as they stepped out of the car.

'Oh, Vaibhav just stop whining,' was his mother's reply.

'I have to finish the book. The deadline is this week.'

'Books, books and more books. There's always a deadline around.' She fumed.

Nishit went back to open the car's trunk to pull out the wheel chair, and then carried out her sister from the car, before gently seating her on the chair.

'My father is old, and every passing day is precious to him. If he invites us, we visit. End of the story.' Rimjhim said as she smoothed creases from the pleats of her sari, and then positioned her locket chain so that it would be in the eyes of people, her sister in law especially.

'Your father is getting crabbier with each passing day. It becomes impossible to spend time with him without getting into an argument.' Vaibhav, Nishit's father dragged his feet to meet his in laws.

He would rather sit through hours of exhausting discussions on policies than spend time with that old eagle.

'Trust me I have the same sentiments for your mother as well. But I cope. Do your part.'

The children, Nishit and Prasanna, rolled their eyes as they followed them inside the bungalow.

Inside, they were greeted by Naitik and Ragini Gupta, Tejas' parents.

'Naitik Bhaiya, How are you?' She touched his feet.'Is your BP and sugar under control?' Rimjhim hugged her brother before moving to her sister in law. 'Bhabhi, how are you?'

'As busy as ever. I had to relinquish a meeting to be here.'

The brother in laws were also conversing on the side.

'How's business?'

'Did the construction start?'

'Busy well,' Rimjhim was continuing with her sister in law,'everyone is busy here. Vaibhav has a deadline. Nishit had a meeting. I had to address a seminar. Prasanna had a class. But you know family comes first.'

She hugged Tejas who had come to touch his feet.

'Kabhi Bua ke ghar bhi aa jaya karo.' Rimjhim loved Tejas like her own son. After Tejas' mother had passed away, he had shifted to his aunt's place and stayed with the Aggarwals for years, moving out only when he got admission in a law college.  

When Naitik had remarried a much younger woman than him, a chasm had formed between the son and father, the relationship between them now irreparable, so Tejas also felt closer to his aunt's family than his own.

'I keep thinking of visiting you Bua but you know how it is. Something or the other keeps popping up. I will definitely drop in sometime.'

'What definitely drop in?! Now that you are getting hooked, you'd get busier than ever.'

'Where's Baba?' She inquired about her father.

'In his room, waiting for you all,' he revealed.

Then Tejas did a fist bump with his cousin, before lowering to meet his  younger cousin.

'Prasanna, how's my little champ?'

'You are getting married' She accused. They all had pledged to never get married.

'I thought it was time to bring you a companion.'

'All for me, eh?' She raised her brows.

'I might have thought about my ailing grandfather's wish to see his grand kids yanking his mustache and my aunt wanting to see me walk around the holy fire and take the marriage vows.' He winked.

'What a good Samaritan. And for this you didn't get any girl other than my brother's betrothed.'

'She's not my betrothed.'

'Not his betrothed'

Both the brothers said together. 

'Well, good if you both are of the same mind. Saves all the angst and drama.'

'Nishit...Prasanna...come, Nanaji ko pranaam kar lo. Vaibhav, come and meet Baba and then you can talk all you want'

Vaibhav had really got comfortable in the sofa, and had started a discussion about the recently passed farm laws. He was in the middle of explaining to his brother in law the main loopholes, when he had to get up.

Vishesh Kumar Gupta sat on a diwan, his legs crossed, patting the heads of his grandchildren. He was dressed in a cream colored shirt and black trousers. His skin might be old and hanging loosely from the skeleton, but he still dressed impeccably, not a hair out of place.

'Prasanna beta is all grown up. We'll have to start looking for a groom soon, Rimjhim.'

'Time flies, Baba'

'How's your studies?' He asked his only granddaughter.

'Good,' And then because Prasanna knew there would be nothing said, she propelled her vehicle out of the room where she could find a corner and read a book. After the initial greetings, she often became invisible to people, and thus she had found her escape in books. Non fiction novels, that is. Today, she had sneaked in Swami Vivekananda's Rousing Call To The Hindu Nation.

'Nishit,' the patriarch addressed his oldest grandson.

'Nanajee'

'How's work?'

'Good'

'What did you think about my offer?' 

'My decision remains same. I will continue with FORSES' 

'It's a sinking ship.'

'Could be. Then again, I'm no rat.' 

Vishesh found the young boy's stance extremely humble and respectful, but the voice was steely brooking no further argument.

He was arrogant like his father and... stubborn like the mother. He was reminded of his second born's resolution and determination when she had decided to marry out of caste. 

'Rimjhim, make the boy see reason. Help me convince him to join our company.'

'You know how it is Baba. The kids don't interfere in my life. I don't in theirs' 

Miffed at the outright refusal, Vishesh turned to his son in law. 

'What did you write about Chandrika Pradhan in your last book? Is that how you've been selling your books? All lies!'

Vishesh and Vaibhav had only one similarity. That their names started with V. Other than that, they were two very different individuals in manners, pursuits, morals and upbringing. While Vishesh was a middle class still at heart, tight-fisted and shrewd, never shying away from using deceit, Vaibhav was an intellectual, had been born in money, spent lavishly, and was an idealist. Where Vaibhav thought, Vishesh put the thoughts into action. They could have gone along well if not for their clashing political affiliations.

'They are my truths Baba.'

Vishesh belonged and supported the ruling party, Vaibhav had been appointed as the Chairman of a Committee when the opposition  party had been in power. In fact, Vaibhav also had a short stint in politics. Joining the opposition party, he had even contested elections but had lost by a huge margin. Since then he had been not so active in politics, but was a member of board of governors of Economic Relations and had been busy writing books. He also sat at Eco Forums. Sitting on two opposite political spectrum, they never saw an eye to eye.

'Beware, he's talking about suing you and getting your book banned.'

'He's an angry cat scratching the post. But pay him no heed Baba Suing is no issue. I can always write another book.'

'But you will not stop spouting lies.'

'Lies and truths are all subjective.'

Annoyed at the entire family, Vishesh waved them off. They emptied the room except Rimjhim, who stayed asking after his health, checking his reports and medicines. 

She patiently listened to him complaining about her son and husband, then when it was time for lunch, she assisted him to the dining hall.

Their she saw that the Agnihotris had arrived were into an animated conversation with Naitik and Ragini. The kids were also listening and taking part.

Sana's parents Mahendra Agnihotri, a nephrologist and mother Shefali Agnihotri, a cardiologist were the owners of Sheena Arogya Ltd, one of the biggest chains of hospitals in India.

When Vishesh entered the room, Mahendra, Shefali both stood up to greet him. Then, Shefali, nudged her daughter forward to touch his feet.

Vishesh nodded, waving everybody to sit and start the meal. He himself ate less owing to his health but on the table was spread various delicacies.

'They are bringing too many damn schemes. All of them wrong! This new one is like putting a leash over the private medical services! As it is we weren't affected by GST and demonetisation then came this bomb.'

'The public private partnership sure helps in addressing the problems that private healthcare used to face in building a new hospital-the licensing complexities - has been reduced; however limiting taxes on the medical devices ,the source of fund, expecting us to deliver services, perform surgeries and other procedures at unviable rates?!'

Mahendra went on for a few minutes, but then Shefali brought back the children's wedding to the forefront.

'Let's get them engaged first. After that we can get some appropriate wedding date from the priest.' Ragini suggested despite knowing that her role in Tejas' life, his wedding moresoever was nil.

'Actually, Babuji, Sana was thinking about a destination wedding. And she's our only daughter so we...'

'Just tell me when and where to be present when they need my blessings. Rest you all decide among yourselves. Excuse me, It's my meditation time,' Vishesh pushed his chair back then and left the scene. He wasn't very stirred by this relationship. It was Nishit who was supposed to marry Sana. Hadn't he made it clear in the beginning itself. If they were going to everything according to  themselves. Why was he even here?

Nishit was quietly eating when Ragini  who sat next to him drew his attention, 'Nishit, do you have any girlfriend? Tejas toh kar hi rahe hai shadi lage hath aap bhi usi mandap mein phere le lein. Rimjhim Di would be ecstatic.'

'Shadi? Yahan gulab jamun toh daant se tut nahi rahe, aap shadi ki baat kar rahi hai Mami!'

'Thode shakt ban gaye na? Par swad acha hai. Maine banaya.' She commented unabashedly.

'Ji woh toh rang rup dekh kar hi pata chal gaya tha.' Since, Ragini's arrival, some poorly cooked dish had consistently showed itself on the table during feasts at Gupta house, be it half baked biryani, dry halwas, dissolved paneer in matar paneer, or hard gulab jamuns. 

Ragini chuckled. 'Itne bhi bure nahi hai'

'Ji, bure toh bilkul nahi hai.'

'Two birds with one stone. First, nobody faults you for not trying to be a good housewife. Second, nobody asks you to try be a good housewife.'

'He...he...he...' She laughed like a demon. 'That's my game plan! Ab zor zor se chilla ke scheme mat bata dena sabko.' She whispered.

Nishit swiped his fingers across his lips. 'Sealed' He could feel Tejas' eyes on him but ignored.

Later when they were sitting together, Tejas asked, 'So you dropped Kirti home last night.'

Nishit's reply was a dance of head.

'Thanks man. I was supposed to but I forgot.'

A shrug.

'By the way, Nishit, was it Mithila Gaekwad with you last night? Are you two dating?' Sana asked, leaning against the arm of a sofa, her legs resting on Tejas' lap.

'We are'

'Wasn't she like with Srinivas Mhatre until last month?'

'Could be. I have no idea.'

'He clearly introduced her as his girlfriend. And Nishit, you were there. Don't lie.' She emphasized.

'Might have forgotten.' He said carelessly.

'Dude, what's with you going after others' girlfriends?' Sana asked exasperated.

'Adrenaline kick? Ego boost?' She supplied.

He shrugged. 'It takes two. The girls have to come to me for me to steal them'

'That's low, Nishit. Really low move. Not expected from you.'

'But Sana, do you know what my saving grace here is?'

She stared at him.

'I like only one person at a time.'

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]