Chapter 57

Chapter 56

 

"Since it's officially tomorrow here, I just wanted to call to wish you all the best for the launch today Kabir."

Laughing at the absurdity of her announcement, considering he was just settling in for the night, Kabir shook his head at his beautiful wife's image on the computer monitor.

"Thank you Rachna.  And if I may, can I tell you that you look absolutely beautiful tonight?"

"That, Kabir Tripathi, you are welcome to say at any time of the day or night," she responded sassily. "I will assume that since you are back in your room, that all the preparations for tomorrow are complete?"

"Ji Rachna, which means I am free to admire you as long as you have the time to spare."

"Hmm how exciting, perhaps I should reschedule my day to accommodate you. Despite knowing that I would be destined to have to share you with Aryia at some point, I cannot think of a better way to spend my day."

"Nor I, Beautiful. Before I began gazing to my heart's content, tell me how are the children?"

"They are fine, all of them including this little one here," she answered patting her tummy. "I don't know if it is because of how busy I've been that I haven't noticed, or the fact that I've adjusting to this pregnancy faster, but I have been feeling better every day Kabir."

"You must still take care, Rachna, it won't do for you to be lulled into a false sense of security and over-exert yourself unwittingly."

"There's no need to worry, up until he left Rajeev made certain of that I stuck to a schedule, and now Gunjan and Daadi have taken over without skipping a beat, to keep me on the straight and narrow."

Kabir nodded, deferring to her capacity in understanding her limitations.

"Sanjay is also doing well. He has fully recovered physically, and is in much better spirits with his mother with him. Not surprising he wishes to be with her, but not exclusively where he doesn't spend the time with us either. In fact it appears he is very intrigued with Vihaan for some reason.  For that matter, so is Aryia; it must be that Agarwal charm," Rachna teased. "Actually I think it is the fact that he is a new face that's all."

"I see."

"Obviously that will all change in a few days, when she has all of her favorite people back home though; her Papa particularly. I expect there will be a fierce completion for your attention when you return Kabir Tripathi."

 He yawned in response. "I'm so sorry Rachna."

"Don't apologize KT, you have had so much on your plate with this launch, and other things. I will let you go now so you can rest. All the best for the launch; I'm sure it will be an enormous success. And one more thing Mr. Tripathi, make sure you celebrate your success, both you and Nathanial deserve it."

-----------

The hotel elevator doors closed and it began its ascent, leaving the fifth floor behind. Alone now save for the man beside her, Naomi concentrated on the numbers as they lit up in sequential order: 6, 7, 8 and then 9. It stopped and the doors slide open again.  She must have hesitated for a second, because he had to place his hand on the small of her back, and guide her out of the lift before the doors closed.  The couple then walked in silence until they reached her hotel door.

Naomi cleared her throat, and turned her attention across the hall. "So that's KT's room right there. He has the best balcony attached to it; I mean it's really beautiful."

"I see. And have you been spending much time in Kabir's room and on his balcony?"

Confused, she raised her head. "What do you mean? Why would I..."  She stopped when Rajeev lightly caressed her face and smiled.

"Aacha, there you are; it seemed I lost you around the time the elevator closed a couple of floors down." She clammed up again. Sighing, Rajeev took hold of her hand and brought it up to his lips. "Sweetheart, are you going to open the door? I really would like to get back down to my room to get some rest, an impossibility until I know you are secured in your own room."

She blushed and he understood immediately what had been going through her mind when he had indicated that he would come with her up to her room. "Actually I was hoping you would come in... for a minute at least." He was taken aback by her invitation. Naomi studied his face attempting to keep her mind on what she wanted to say, and away from the wayward thoughts pervading her mind. "Ah the tickets to go home; I thought we could see what we could find online and book them since tomorrow will be a busy day." She stepped away from him and reached into her handbag, extracting the key card which would grant them access to her suite.

----------

It took less time than she thought, but by mutual agreement they determined that they wouldn't purchase tickets to see her parents until the morning after, since it appeared that there were plenty of seats on the flights they had viewed. That decision made, Rajeev had stood and held his hand out to Naomi, and led her to the door.

"Make sure you latch the door behind me, Naomi."

She had looked up, afraid to speak for fear that she would say something she shouldn't, perhaps even telling him that to do so would mean him being on the wrong side of the door, so she just nodded.

And totally contrary to his statement, Rajeev continued to hold her hand, making no move to release it or to leave.

"So I was considering your apprehension about showing the dress tomorrow and thought that perhaps I could help you through it."

 

In the end his advice worked. She had walked the runway for the last time with no reservations or regrets. She had accepted the congratulations of the two designers, and her fellow models, but as she had watched Rajeev across the room she knew she was more than ready to leave this phase of her life behind. Now her thoughts and eyes focused solely on the man who would be her future.

---------

 

"Gunjan Garg I do not snore!"

"Ha Rachna Tripathi, you do, and frankly I can't stand it any longer. It seems like it's getting worse every night!"

Rachna looked at her sister aghast. "You are so lying, if it was anywhere as bad as you are saying KT would have said something.."

"Well perhaps it's a pregnancy thing, or he's just way too sweet to mention it to you, but it's really, really bad Rachna. I'm exhausted from being up all night," she whined.

"Aacha, go ahead and sleep in the nursery, traitor. Just remember when you start complaining that I'm too busy for you that you didn't want to stay here with me."

Gunjan hugged her younger sister and smiled. "Oh sweetie, it's not as if you will be up much longer anyway; I can see how tired you are. At least my being in the nursery will allow you the opportunity to sleep through the night, instead of having one ear tuned into the baby monitor. Trust me, Rachna in the morning you won't even miss that I wasn't here."

Reluctantly, Rachna agreed. She had to admit that she had been staying up late, and then sleeping very lightly the last few nights. The last thing she needed was for Kabir to come back to her looking drawn from a lack of rest; she would never  hear the end of it. "Thik hai, Gunjan, go and have a snore free night."

--------

He had arrived just in time he surmised, as he studied her as she lay asleep in the lamp lit room. Her sketchbook and pencils were spread in disarray across the bed, evidence that she had fallen asleep at her task. He shook his head, even as he drank in the sight of his beloved, the first time in days not over a computer monitor.  The faint shadows under her eyes were clearly discernable and he vowed to rectify the situation and ensure that she took sufficient rest, particularly if her next checkup indicated that she should. For now though, Kabir was just content being back home with her. Silently he removed her drawing materials and left just as quietly as he headed to wash away the vestiges of his long day of travel.

 

Mere moments after Kabir had extinguished the light and got into the bed beside his wife,  Rachna had instinctively rolled into his arms, resting her head on his chest. Her nightgown provided little barrier between then and her soft curves caressed him tantalizingly, as she nestled against him. Finally she settled with a sigh, and Kabir smiled in the darkness waiting for her acknowledgment of his early return.  And waited still. Her slow, steady breaths indicating otherwise, Kabir still couldn't reconcile that she could have continued to sleep so easily, not when such a fierce desire had welled within him at her first touch.  He lay there aware of every breath she took; every slight move of her body, until he chided himself for his diverging thoughts. She was obviously in need of rest, not his advances. He lightly brushed his lips over the top of her head, sighed and closed his eyes, willing his mind elsewhere.

 

It would have been the most pleasant of dreams, Rachna supposed. KT's return, earlier than expected and being held in his arms as she slept the night away was as near to perfection as she could ever imagine. In her dream she could snuggle closer and feel the weight of the arm that held her fast against him, safe and secure. She sighed at feeling so cherished and secure. Absolute perfection' she thought or it would be if it wasn't for the infernal buzzing in her ear. Irritatingly insistent, the noise demanded her attention and drew her from the paradise she had created in her mind. She resisted acknowledging the droning noise, knowing that to do so would mean that she would awaken, and have to face the reality of being alone and lonely for Kabir. Unconsciously, she shook her head and smiled to herself that her efforts to stay in the dream had manifested in the tightening of the embrace she was in. But still the noise continued. Surely if she could control her dream she could stop the infernal racket of someone snoring. She groaned in frustration, and low and behold, the noise ceased. She settled contently until another unexpected sound reached her ears.

"Are you ok my love, do you need anything?"

Rachna's eyes shot open and she gasped. Hesitantly she reached for his hand resting  low against her stomach, and found it there, warm and solid; not a dream at all.

She began to roll over and he moved his arm, accommodating her movements, until she lay flat on her back, looking up at him. "You're home," she whispered. "How can you be home?" Her wonder evolved in to a smile; her joy to laughter. "You aren't supposed be here yet, not for another twenty four hours, Kabir. Oh God, I can't believe that you have come home!" He didn't have the chance to answer before she reached up and encircled his neck, drawing him closer. Kabir braced himself so that his full weight would not crush her, but happily accepted her affection as she kissed him excitedly. When she paused, he rolled, taking her with him. Their positions reversed, Kabir smiled up at his wife. "We lucked and managed to get everything settled..."

"We? Everyone has come back, Naomi and Rajeev?"

Kabir nodded and then held Rachna wrist as she sought to get up.

"Oh no Mrs. Tripathi, you can just stay right where you are. You will have plenty of time to visit her later today, much later, after you've rested.  Surely you have to know that I've seen with my own eyes how you have been spending your nights. The evidence was spread around you." He waited for her denial, and looked her askew, when none was forthcoming. "You cannot even defend yourself can you, Rachna?"

"No Kabir, you're right. I shouldn't have stayed up so late sketching and I will make sure get some extra rest."

His eyes narrowed at her conciliatory tone.  "You're agreeing, with no argument."

She smiled and nodded. "I'm just so happy that you are home Kabir; I'll probably agree to anything you propose right now."

Kabir reached up and brushed a few stray hairs back behind her ear. "That's a very dangerous statement to make to a man who has been without his love for so long," he whispered huskily. "One could definitely take advantage of such a situation."

She smiled in response and waited to see if he would.

"Kiss me Rachna."

And she did, so completely and thoroughly , entrancing him to the point that he would have given in to any demand she had by the time she had finished.

-------------

She supposed to be kissed awake could never a bad thing, but the wet slobbering variety she was receiving wouldn't have exactly been her first choice. However when accompanied by the excited babble of her god-daughter, they were extremely hard to resist. Naomi peeked to see where Ariya was positioned, and then grabbed the little girl and kissed and tickled her in return.  Between childish giggles she squealed her name "Pari...Pari"

Naomi picked up the baby and held her close; she loved the tyke so much.  Turning to face Rachna, Naomi instead came face to face with Gunjan with a tray in her hands, sitting at the foot of the bed. Rachna stood at the doorway and purposively locked the door. She then walked over to the bed, and scooted her friend over so that all of them could find a comfortable spot.

Rachna cleared her throat, "Since your fiance has gone home to let his family know of his return, we figure this is the best opportunity to talk before he returns, most likely with Vihaan in tow."

Gunnjan nodded. "We've got snacks and drinks, and now we want details; all of the details, Naomi."

Naomi smiled. "Where do you want me to start?"

Rachna picked up her laptop from dresser and brought it over. She logged on to something and exchanged the laptop for her daughter. "Why don't you start with how you managed to pull that off when you were really struggling with it?"

Naomi looked at the screen to the YouTube video titled "Bedroom Eyes on the Runway" and watched the short clip of her final walk at the launch.

"What on earth?"

"Apparently you got someone's attention," Rachna teased, "And it seems a few fans judging by some of those comments. So tell me what changed your attitude?"

"Come on, it's not like I had a choice, I had to wear it."

"But you looked like you were enjoying it sooo much Naomi,"Gunjan teased. "Something must have changed your mind about wearing that dress, so tell."

Naomi's cheeks flamed in response. "No comment."

The other women laughed. "Thik hai, Naomi, we will give you a pass on that," Rachna said, "But" she continued, grabbing hold of her left hand admiring her new ring, "You have to tell us what led to this being placed on your finger."

"And you're not allowed to omit anything, Naomi; nothing at all."

"Come on Rachna, isn't t enough to know that you can finally start designing something for me?"

She watched her friend shake her head, "No, I need all the details so I can be inspired; it's a design thing, you wouldn't understand."

"I'm so sure" Naomi responded wryly.  She sighed, but then smiled cheekily. Despite her protests she was bursting at the seams to share her news.

"I was given some inspirational words to get me through my walk in this dress; and trust me I needed the courage. "

"It does seem that they went a bit overboard with the net usage." Rachna conceded.

"You mean to say that there was more sheer net than actual fabric."

"But you looked stunning, you know that don't you?"

"Forget stunning, you looked sexy as all out!" Gunjan interjected.

"Like I said, more net than fabric. Let's just say I had an intimate relationship with that dress; nothing came between us if you understand my meaning."

"Oh my, " Rachna teased.

"Anyway, I got my words of wisdom, and this was the result." She paused to pick at some of the snacks they brought, sneaking some to Aryia.

"So we moved to the reception and then I had to go and fight through a throng of gorgeous women who had taken a liking for my Rajeev."

"What!"

"KT had decided to use two photos from our photoshoot at the reception, and by the time I had arrived at the reception, Rajeev had amassed quite the fan base because of them."  Indicating the comments on the laptop screen, Naomi continued, "These are nothing compared to some of the propositions my Rajeev had to contend with. There are some pretty shameless females around I tell you."

" You weren't worried were you, Naomi? I can't imagine Rajeev responding to any of these..."

"Worried, no; furious yes, but as soon as I entered, he had eyes for no one else. If I needed any final convincing, the fact the he disregarded so many beautiful women who were basically throwing themselves at him..." She sighed in memory. "It really was a great night."

"Okay,"Gunjan said, covering her mouth as she chewed, "So what happened next?"

-----------

KT had opened the door the next morning, to find Naomi there with her luggage. They had agreed that he would keep the bulk of it so she could travel light, and be back in New York in time to fly back to Banaras in a couple of days.

"I've just had breakfast delivered, and ordered enough, so why don't you come in and have a bite?"

She had checked her watch, before declining. "No KT, I still need to check out, and then get to the airport to make sure we are able to get a flight out today. Thanks for offering..."

He had taken her hand firmly and insisted. "Please Naomi, I just want to have a word with you before you leave."

She had allowed him to lead her to the door leading to the balcony and then stopped when he pulled up short ahead of her.

"I know that my actions only added to your stress, so I'm hoping this will be of some help. But before you think that any of this is guilt driven, I just need you to know that I always believed in the two of you; we all did."

He said nothing else, leaving her confused and had opened the door to usher her ahead of him.

She walked out, her gaze still on him. "KT I don't understand.." And then she had turned.

-------

"Everyone was there, Rachna; Daddy was standing looking out over the city with Rajeev, drinking coffee, and Mummy was sitting at the table poring through what looked like hundreds of photos. Before I could get over the shock that they were all there together, Rajeev walked over to me and hugged and kissed me on the forehead, and told me to enjoy breakfast with my parents, and that they wanted to speak to me alone."

Naomi looked at her friends, who returned her smile.

"But I suspect that both of you knew what was going to happen, right?"

Gunjan threw her hands up in protest. "Don't look at me I'm just visiting."

"And had no idea exactly what my husband was planning."

"Because you were too busy planning yourself, right Ra; there were definite elements that had your name written all over it."

crtkelly2016-05-26 02:45:40