Chapter 46

43. House Of Lac

‘You look like a moon that had been hiding behind the clouds all this while,’ He said.

‘Aggarwal,’ She acknowledged. ‘You look like a gutter swimming silverfish that has been plucked from its surroundings, given a polish and expected to behave like humans.’ She looked at him contemptuously. ‘But you give away yourself with all this gibberish. Years of feeding on garbage, I suppose?’  

‘If you must, call me dust that has just seen light after spending years under the rock.’ He refused to be discouraged. 

‘I am afraid to break it to you, Priyanshu, that your conversation skills are still as lacking as they were in the past. Incandescent prose like these looks good jammed between glossy covers of the novels you write.On hearing, not so much.’

‘How have you been, Ahilya?’ His face took an expression of that of a pining lover. 

‘How do I look, Priyanshu?’ She looked around the room dispassionately.

‘Dazzling as ever. Your jauntiness is still as contagious and irresistible as ever.’

‘My threshold for dullsville tete a tete hereby has crossed its limit. Excuse me if you will.’

‘I dare not say my heart is hers though she stole it from me.

I cannot call her tyrant though I see her cruelty

Hers is the battleground where men bear neither blade nor bow

Hers is the banquet-hall with neither wine nor revelry.’ He quoted Mirza Ghalib.

‘At least I can congratulate you on your progress in the poetics department. Glad you moved on from Donne’s bawdy poems.’ She shuddered remembering the poems he had quoted to her in the past. Something about a flea biting the two lovers and their blood mingling in there.

‘The beauty of the prose of John Donne cannot be understood by the likes of you.’

‘I accept. To appreciate his erotic poems, one requires perverse minds like you. Now if you will step aside, ah and a parting advice, quote Mirza in his own language and to your own wife. That is how you do it. Don’t show me your face the entire night if you can.’

XxxX

He coursed his way through the crowd segregated into groups to reach Ahilya Lokhande. He had been hearing a lot about her since he had returned. Her beauty, her business, her paramours and her scandalising outfits. He had seen her on a few occasions but had never approached her. Tonight he was going to score her and win the bet he had made with his friends.

Checking his reflection in a mirror column on his way, he made a grand gesture bowing, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. ‘Ms. Lokhande’

‘I just thought I was transported to the Victorian era. It doesn’t help that you look like a fop. Is that frock coat you are wearing?? Looks funny. Hahaha.’ That sharp mocking laugh filled him with pusillanimity and he stepped back. It was a designer Bandhani Kurta he was wearing. 

‘Also, I don’t like people touching me without my permission. Next time, don’t take such liberties.’ 

He was expecting an easy simpering harlot, ready to throw herself over any man especially when it was a man like him , not this authoritarian whose contempt filled eyes made him feel like he was a dung crawling insect.

‘I am Navyam Prakash, son of Dharmesh Prakash. You must know my father. He is…’

‘Oh? You’re still the same boy.’

‘Sorry?’

‘A man who has nothing to offer than being his father’s son. You still have a lot of growing up to do, boy. Sad it is that  protein shakes only enlarge your muscles, isn’t it?’

Navyam excused himself and strode off.

‘Gutter scums, all of them.’ 

She raised her glass and feigned a smile for her acquaintance.

‘Mrs. Lokhande,’ someone tapped her bare shoulders making her turn. 

‘Mr.Prakash. It is for scintillating personalities like you that I attend uneventful soirees like this,’ she acknowledged the father of the man-boy who had just stormed off.

‘How have you been?’ He offered his hand for a shake.

Before she could take his hand in her own, a hand wrapped around her waist pulling her to him, His other hand shot to shake Prakash’s.

Mr.Prakash raised his brow. ‘Your…’ He found it difficult to give a name to the relationship of the couple.

‘Hardiik. Her Partner. Live-in-partner. Lover. Boyfriend. Whichever you feel at ease with Mr. Prakash.’

‘Why do I feel I have seen you somewhere?’

‘I am told I have a common face. One that reeks of poverty.’

‘Hardik,’ Ahilya remonstrated. ‘How many times I have told you it was a joke.’

‘Sorry?’ Prakash was lost.

‘Don’t be Mr.Prakash. I make sure to use this face to my advantage.’

Prakash ignored him, focusing on the woman. ‘What did you think about the offer I made to you?’

‘Mister Prakash. Mister Prakash,’ she purred. ‘I expected better of you. We don’t mix personal and business. Let’s meet in business hours and discuss your offer.’

When Prakash moved on to another guest, Ahilya turned to the man beside her. 

‘Where were you? Why are you wearing such ordinary clothes? Why haven’t you shaved?’ She inquired, tracing a finger down his hairy cheek.

‘I was taking the tour of this House of Lac.’

‘Hmm?’

‘About other questions, I can’t be bothered.’ He dismissed, his gaze sweeping the entire room.

‘At least keep my reputation in mind.’ Ahilya spoke once again, her sight landing on the one she had been looking for the entire evening.

She began to leave. Hardiik, following her gaze, twined his fingers around her wrist. She shrugged it off her. 

His expression rage filled and disapproving of her, ‘I am going to the lawn,’ he said and left.

XxxX

‘How did you like my dress, Nishit? Don’t I dazzle when the golden of it catches light?’ She was wearing a golden shimmery couture gown that stuck to her body like a second skin. ‘I was told it would have a mesmerizing effect on the eyes of the beholder.’

‘Consider me mesmerized, Ma’am.’ Nishit complimented politely.

‘Hahahah.’ The same affected laughter. ‘You are an attractive man, Nishit. You know that, don’t you? And haven’t I told you to call me, Urmi.’

‘Pardon me...Ma’am..I mean..Ur. If you don’t mind, I have to go and receive a friend of mine.’

‘Yeah sure,’ she said, not betraying her disappointment. Then her eyes landed on Maanvi, the second daughter in law of the Aggarwals. Priyanshu Aggarwal’s wife. She was frowning at Ahilya, ready to make a beeline for her.

Not in the mood of petty discourses, Ahilya removed herself and walked off to where hard drinks were being served.

XxxX

‘Kirti, You came?’ His voice was a rush of emotions.

She nodded, not meeting his eyes and instead looking at her brother and Prasanna disappearing into the crowd. 

Nishit's eyes, when she had met them, were dark and intense. A million secrets swimming in them, knocking out her breath.

‘I had to,’ she whispered. ‘Prasanna had invited us with so much love so....’ 

He guided her towards the lawn where various men and women strolled or stood in groups.

‘For Prasanna?’ He was walking next to her.

‘Hmm,’ she repeated herself, ignoring the warm gooeness that his voice unleashed in the pit of her stomach.  

‘Not for me?’ His arm brushed her bare one and she stumbled and paused for a second. 

His unaffected self, carried on as if he didn’t even notice it. It must have been by mistake without him noticing it.

‘Hmm?’ His outright question took her by surprise and made her flighty.

‘My coming to your house was in vain then?’ He changed the question. 

She did not know what to answer and had the urge to twist her fingers but kept her hands on her side. For another by mistake, graze?

‘Are you sure you did not come for me?’ In a swift move, he came to stand in front of her.

‘No.’ Again, she did not meet his eyes. 

She was scared of what she would see there. What her own eyes will tell him.

‘You look ugly. In blue. Very ugly’ He said.

Her eyes shot to him. ‘Too bad I don’t care for your approval!’ She was wearing a sky blue plain saree paired with a shimmery golden blouse. 

He held her fiery gaze, a wicked smile playing on his lips. 

She read the appreciative male gleam in his eyes and shivered in response.

‘Come here,’ he pulled her. 

‘Huh?’ Befuddled was her face.

‘Yes, right here.’ He had pulled her under the fairy lights and appraised her.

‘What are you doing?’ She felt hot under his gaze.

‘I have been told that when light catches gold, it has a mesmerising effect. Yes, it’s true. You are.’

‘I am what?’ Her heart was hammering in her chest.

‘Your bindi is tilted. May I?’

It was? But she had checked herself in the small mirror at the entrance gate itself before entering the house.

Before she could say anything, he had already leaned into her, fixing the small adhesive stone. Then his fingers gently removed the few blowing tendrils off her face. 

She thought she heard him murmur something like ‘Perfect’ before he stepped back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIqC-6pkT0o

[MEMBERSONLY]