Chapter 4

Part #4

My beloved KK, it takes at least 45 minutes to get to the office, and you left only twenty minutes ago. Which can only mean that you are messaging while driving: very bad of you. I think I may have to turn off my mobile...

Mehek pursed her lips and awaited her husband's reply. His actions were the height of folly; making the need for her to successfully complete her fast a must. Someone had to save the foolish man from himself.

Traffic is crawling; practically stopped if it's any consolation, but you are right. I just needed to know how you were faring. ..This will be a long day for me.

Mehek's eyes softened as she read this message. No matter what was going on in their lives; Shaurya never hid his true feelings whenever they communicated like this. It was silly really, the fact that after all this time, that they continuously reverted back to messaging each other when apart; and even when not.

I'm...we're both fine. You have two meetings  to get through and then you will be done, and back with us, soon afterwards. By that time I will have had already eaten my first allotment of fruit for the day, enough to keep Baby Khanna well. Please don't worry...

She was right, Shaurya admitted, he really needed to settle down. He had left Mehek in good hands with Kanta Chachi personally assuring him that adequate preparations had been made for their daughter in consideration of her delicate condition. The newly-pregnant woman would be well cared for, safely in the arms her maternal family, until he returned. She, like all of the females of the family would enjoy a day of rest, as they celebrated this most important festival.  "Just settle down, Shaurya," the man mumbled to himself, as traffic began to move a little quicker. "Just a couple of meetings," he repeated, to encourage himself.

************

Rajiv watched as Shaurya  picked up his mobile, as if he would use it and then purposively set it on the table away from him.  It was the third time he had repeated the action in ten minutes. He looked at clock hanging on the wall, and then addressed his associate.

"We still have to wait for the sales reports to be finalized, so there should be sufficient time, if you need to make a telephone call, Shaurya."

"Huh: Nahi," the younger man answered, forcing a smile on his face. "Everything is fine."

Rajiv shrugged and returned to reviewing the spreadsheet he had up on his laptop.

"Pineapple and Papaya: she shouldn't have these, I hope she remembers."

Said more to himself than to anyone else, Rajiv  raised his head. It was rare to see the young man so distracted. Something was definitely going on with him. Just as he was about to query this fact, the meeting room door swung open and Shaurya's PA entered.  Smiling she placed one set of financials in front of Rajiv, and the second set before her boss.

 

Shaurya immediately noticed the henna design on her hands. "You are observing a fast today, Hina," knowing the young woman to be unmarried.

"Haan Sir, I am," she replied. "...For my fiance."

"But you've come to the office?"

She looked at him questioningly.  "Your meeting, Sir: it has been scheduled for some time. I have cleared it with HR to take the remainder of the day off though...if that is okay, Sir," she added hesitantly.

"And have you completed everything you had to do now,"Shaurya asked.

"Ji Sir. I will just remain in case you or Rajiv Sir needed..."

Shaurya interrupted her. "Nahi, why don't you just clear out of here. The last thing you should be doing is working today."

Not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, the young woman nodded in agreement. "Ji, and thank you so much Sir, are you sure you didn't need anything: some coffee perhaps since you haven't had your usual morning cup yet?'
"I'm fine thank you, Hina just get going. We will see you in the morning."

Beside him Rajiv held up his empty coffee mug, with an affable grin on his face.

"Of course Rajiv, Sir," Hina exclaimed reaching for the cup, so that she could refill it.

Rajiv waited until the young woman had departed.  "Cuttng back on the java, my friend," he asked, wondering at the man who practically thrived on Hina's special coffee preparation.

"Something like that."

Playing it cool was a lot easier said than done, he thought when the PA returned with the full steamy cup for Rajiv. The scent of the heavenly brew permeated the air, instantly activating his taste buds. God he hoped bhai finished it quickly, he thought.

After stopping to allow Rajiv to grab the mug off the tray she carried, Hina turned and offered the tall glass of water to Shaurya. Her brow furrowed, when the man shook his head. "No thank you Hina, you can leave that aside for Rajiv Sir as well."

Over the tray the pair's eyes met, and the young woman's mouth formed a perfect o when she suddenly understood.  Hastily closing her mouth, she nodded and then placed the glass closer to the other man.

"I will be off now, Sir. Best wishes to you and your wife this Karva Chauth, Sir," she voiced sincerely and hurried to leave and enjoy the boon granted to her.  She doubted that her family or friends would believe her when she told them what she suspected, as never in the few years had Shaurya Khanna remotely cared about Karva Chauth, but now things had changed a full 180 degrees: completely. Let alone anyone believing this, her fiance certainly had some high expectations to live up to, if a man like Shaurya Khanna could fast for his beloved today.

***********

 Mehek shook her head, finally agreeing to have a small mehndi design once PD had let her in on the secret that Shaurya himself had supplied the henna, to ensure it was of the highest quality: completely natural and safe  for her use particularly.

"Small will not do, beti. This is not the time for timidity; let the henna speak for you Mehek, beta, and show your husband how much you care," PD instructed her great-granddaughter . 

Sonal who had come home for the festivities leaned in where Mehek sat, "I don't think that will be a problem at all: henna or not. It's not as if you can deny now exactly you demonstrate your care for your husband, Mehek," she whispered goading her longtime friend to comment with her wiggling eybrows.

"Bas, Sonal," Mehek replied cognizant of how her now warmed cheeks.

Her best friend laughed in response and change the subject, "So tell, what does it feel like: being pregnant that is, not the other you know," Sonal continued with a sly wink.

"Wonderful and off-putting at the same time; I am so happy, but have never felt so out of sorts in my life. Add Shaurya's idiosyncrasies, and it has been in particular interesting time of late."

"So he's happy then," Sonal asked still trying to wrap her head around first that Mehek was to be a mother, and more so that her husband: a father...somehow she couldn't see the debonair businessman in a parental role. But then again, stranger things had happened, recalling the tempestuous beginning of the couple's relationship. And now... "With everything that's going on with the two of you: your new show, the new season of India's Super cook, I wonder why you would think it the right time to add a baby to the mix?"

"What bakwaas are you speaking, Sonal; can't you see how coddled Mehek is now? The man is over the moon at the news, and now is the perfect time for them to grow their family," PD interrupted.

Sonal smiled, and shook her head. "Ji Daadi," she agreed. "So, should we figure out what sort of mehndi designs we should do, Mehek?"

Mehek stood up. "Bathroom break first," she stated with a grin, and walked away from the group to take a moment to herself.

 Her smile faltered when she was out of sight of the women who had gathered today. Sonal's  probing was just the latest in the line of questioning about her  newly disclosed condition today, but only could her best friend delve into the heart of the matter to something Mehek hadn't even realized was a factor until it was brought up.  But now...she bit her lower lip as she quickened pace to the washroom.

 Will you be home soon...I..we  really need to talk.

 Shaurya frowned at the short message, wondering why it was raising alarm bells.

"Execuse me Chef; you can finish up with with Rajiv."

All of them: their Event Manager, the Executive Chef, not to mention Rajiv, were taken aback when Shaurya walked out of their final meeting after glancing at his mobile. The hotelier who had taken a total hands on approach to exclusive event at the restaurant: to the point of micro-managing the private Karva Chauth party that the prominent Bollywood celebrity had contracted at their flagship restaurant,  had now walked away, as if all of the extensive planning was irrelevant.  

 Jaan what is it: are you well?

Seated on the toilet, Mehek closed her eyes and pressed the back of her hand against her mouth in an effort to hold back the sob building up in her throat. It didn't last long as his quick reply made the urge to weep greater than before.

I just need to know that you are happy about the baby; that even though the timing isn't the best, that you are okay with us having a child...even if you don't really feel that way, just tell me once.

Shaurya looked at his watch. If need be he would leave the meeting, trusting that everything was in order to ensure the success of tonight's event, however, before he did, he would need just a bit more clarification.

I am still here at the restaurant; I will bring us lunch thik, hai?

Mehek gasped when she read the message, and instantly speed-dialed her husband.

"You really have no respect for me don't you Shaurya Khanna, that is the only reason you are belittling this day, isn't it?"

Shaurya smiled. Mehek's irrational tear-filled greeting confirmed exactly what he had suspected. "Aacha, you are not hungry then; low blood sugar isn't the cause of your outburst, Mehek?"

"This isn't funny..."

"No it isn't Mehek, but its okay: everything is okay. Now breathe and tell me why I wouldn't be happy about the baby?"

"Because everything is wrong: it's too soon in our marriage, and we have so much going on in our lives already. What sort of parents will we even be; we don't even know what we are doing. I should have been more careful, or at least asked you...Oh God do you even like babies Shaurya," she sputtered before giving in properly to her tears.

 

He listened to her in silence, until the she was spent. It didn't take long, and now a totally new emotion had taken root in her.

"Well, Shaurya...," she demanded irritated at his lack of response.

 

"Mehek, do you know that at nine weeks, despite being just about the size of a grape, and weighing less than one ounce, our baby has basically developed all of her body parts? And that in a few weeks more we would be able to definitively determine her sex on a scan?"

"Wh...what?"

"And that also at the same time, your hormones are peaking to the point where you can't decide from one minute if you are happy or sad, if life is good or bad...They call it Baby Brain, Jaan, but hopefully in a couple of weeks that will level off as well, Thik hai."

 

Mehek felt her remaining tears dry up as her husband spouted off these random details.  She didn't know what to say.

"Come on Mehek," Shaurya cajoled in a low sultry voice. "It's in one of the first chapters of What to Expect when you are Expecting. What's the point of getting the book if you aren't going to read it?" He sighed loudly in her ear. "Aacha, I guess it will be up to me to keep us informed, so tonight I'll just keep it in the drawer of my night-table instead of returning..."

"You've been reading my book..." Mehek interrupted.

"Haan, and why shouldn't I? Isn't she my baby to love as much as yours?"

He smiled when he heard the little giggle in her response. "Ji Shaurya, he is."

"See there goes those hormones again having you thinking all wrong, Mehek.  My daughter will be perfect just like her mother. Trust me: no one wants another Shaurya Khanna..."

"I wouldn't mind..."

He would just have to disagree, but not now. He could tell that she was a lot calmer than when she first began their conversation, and that's all that mattered to him.

"It's been hell not checking on you, but I didn't want to spoil your day by being so overbearing. Are you certain you are ok? If you need me just say the word."

She sniffed once before answering, " Nahi, I'm sorry. I just don't know what got into me. One minute I was fine, and the next... maybe I should start reading my book after all. But honestly, I'm okay now; although I may have dehydrated myself out with my tears. I will go and have a glass of milk in a minute I suppose."

 

On the other end of the line Shaurya closed his eyes in relief.

"Good. And I promise I won't be long; I will get there as soon as humanly possible. Just promise me that I will find you content if not totally happy, when I do come home.  I don't think I would be able to handle seeing you distressed: especially not today. I'll probably end up making a ruckus and ruining everything, and I don't want to do that now, not when Kanta Chachi finally has a soft spot for me."

"That's silly, there wouldn't have been a shaadi, if Chachi hadn't approved of you.  Oh and Shaurya, thank you for the henna..."

She wasn't supposed to have found that out, but there was nothing he could do about that now that the cat was out of the bag.

"So is that an indication that I will be looking for my name once more Mehek?"

His heart flipped to hear her full out laughter now. "I guess that all depends. Will it make you come home any sooner if I do get the henna done, Shuarya Khanna," she saucily replied.

**********

Much relieved, Shaurya returned back to the hopefully concluded meeting. He was more than ready to put his work behind him and return home to his wife. Likewise, he was certain so were his staff of the same opinion, and ready to see the back of  him. In hindsight, he reckoned that the trio had probably fared better without him there. He could tell right away that he had stepped on both his manager's and head chef's toes with his continued interference. However this event was of particular importance with so many celebrities expected to be in attendance; and if nothing else Shaurya needed perfection in his business endeavors. Still in this instance, even he could admit that he had been domineering to the extreme.

As he approached the group he could see the reservations come over faces of his two staff members, and figured it best to allay their concerns.

"I trust everything is in order?"

"Rajiv immediately began to impart the information he had received; at the ready to defend the preparations the two under pressured staff had made.

Shaurya, held up one hand, and turned to his employees. "A simple yes or no will suffice."

Both man attested to their readiness. Shaurya nodded and then, in a shock to them all brought the meeting to an end.

"I expect then that I will read nothing but good reviews in the expected media coverage. Thank you for your time gentlemen. I will let you get back to you final preparations."

As the pair stood stupefied at this about face by their boss, Rajiv spoke up. "Shaurya, the final tasting...Chef has kept your plate."

"Did you wait for me, or did you sample the menu, bhai; make any necessary changes?"

"Ji, but that was only because we didn't know how long you would be."

"Then that is good enough for me.  Despite my interference, I do recognize that both of you are professionals: you wouldn't be in our employ were you not. Therefore it is for the best, that I let the two of you do what you are proficient at. Thank you for your time."

"But..." Rajiv started, indicated the plate that had now been brought to the table they met at.

"It looks and smells wonderful, but I will have to decline today. You are more than welcome to it Bhai," he added. "I'll just take the opportunity to visit the jeweler a little earlier than I thought, and then head on home. Rajiv  looked at him strangely, but agreed to the his partner's abrupt alteration of their schedule.

It was a good thing that he had left when he did, as his last stop ended up putting him a bit behind schedule. Still it had been definitely worth the effort. Secured in the inner jacket pocket the bespoke designed jewelry had, even with the last minute request, come out brilliantly. He was certain that Mehek would be more than happy with her gift.  As he approached the entrance of the Sharma home, he could hear the festivities in progress with music filtering through the doors.  His knock was answered by Mohit who had the most beleaguered expression on his face.

 "Thank God Jiija ji, we need reinforcements; we are just about over-run here," the younger man lamented pointing toward the sizeable group of women joyously celebrating in the open hall.  Catching the eye of Mehek's Uncles, Shaurya moved in their direction to greet them. Immediately he was given instructions to follow them to the kitchen to finish the meal preparations that had already begun. He agreed,  all the while his eyes seeking out the one woman who stood out amongst the  beautifully bedecked females. Her hennaed hands raised above her head, Mehek gracefully swayed in time to the music being played, totally lost in the melody. And in that moment Shaurya swore he had never seen a more beautiful sight.

"Come Beta...to the kitchen."

"Ji Uncle," Shaurya replied, reluctantly leaving the vision of loveliness he had waited all morning to set eyes on.

 Part5

[NOCOPY]

crtkelly2016-12-13 20:36:50