Chapter 62

Chapter 61

His eyes were immediately drawn to the dining room where breakfast was being served.  Acute disappointment struck Rajeev when he saw the room's only occupants were Daadi, Sanjay and Aryia.  The toddler caught sight of him first and shrieked her greeting.

"Hi Jeev!"

He smiled and waved at the baby as he approached."

"Namaste Rajeev, beta."

"Namaste Daadi." He replied and bowed down to receive her blessings. On rising he then ruffled Sanjay's hair. "Good Morning beta, are you taking care of Pari for me?"

The young boy nodded, "Ha Uncle, but she has been very busy."

Turning his attention back to Daadi he prepared to speak.

"Aacha, I am proud of you beta," the older woman said, before he could get the opportunity to speak. "You lasted a whole 36 hours before you returned. Can I assume that home wasn't quite as bleak as you expected to be?"

Rajeev recalled all of the welcoming touches he had discovered on arriving at his flat that first night, fully appreciating the gem he had in his life. "She made it as close to coming home as it could be without her actually being there, Daadi."

"Tsk, tsk, and yet you wait so long to come to thank your fairy?" She tutted.

"Actually Kabir needed to confirm some measurements, and I've brought Vihaan to have his taken as well." He looked around again for some sign of his beloved.

"I see." Daadi answered enjoying the young man's anxiousness. "So in fact you didn't come to see Naomi this morning then? That is just as well since she is busy in Rachna's studio right now, beta. But I must say one should always offer their thanks in person if the chance arises." She noticed the others approaching and moved to greet them.

"Namaste Vihaan, beta, have you had breakfast?"

"Namaste Daadi I'm afraid not. For some reason Bhai seemed eager to arrive early to be measured. "

"Nanhe, you will eat now?"

"Uh excuse me Daadi; everyone, I'll be right back."

"But of course, beta," Daadi answered happily.

 

"So my reasoning for this is two-fold actually Naomi," Rachna said, as she presented the diaphanous veil for her friend's perusal. "Even though the lehenga won't be  the vibrant color scheme that we would normally see, the  embroidery and embellishment of the fabric is such that it will just be too much to have a heavily detailed veil. I think that this gossamer net with a swarovski crystal border and accents will be the perfect compliment. Secondly even though the veil is the same lavender and not white, I thought will still give you the feel of something you may have worn if you were getting married at home; a little homage to your traditions. Either way you will look beautiful, just like the fairy we know you to be. So would you like to get a feel for how it will look?"

 

Naomi nodded and unzipped her tracksuit jacket revealing the simple square neck white tank top Rachna had requested that she wear this morning. They moved to the mirror where Arpita approached with a selection of accessories.  "The third reason is that you will really be able to play up or down your jewelry choices as you will see."

 

They had just switched out one maang tikka for a more ornate one when the quick knock followed by the door being swung open got their attention. Naomi and Rajeev's eyes met briefly in the mirror before an expression of horror came over her face. "Oh my God, Rajeev, get out!" she screamed. She looked around her frantically, hoping and failing to find a place she could hide from his view; unwilling to remove the veil lest she damage it. She looked at Rachna desperately, when the man just remained where he stood.

 

 He had initially frozen because of just how beautiful she looked this morning, but now hesitated because his love now seemed on the verge of a breakdown, something he was incapable of walking away from.

"Sweet.."

"Please just go away!" she begged tearfully.

He stared, confused.

Rachna  quickly approached him, "Rajeev if you can't move at least close your eyes for a second. Arpita, help her remove the veil please," She called out as she pushed Rajeev backwards, and out of the door before following him and closing it behind her. "Give her a minute to collect herself."

"What just happened, Rachna?" he asked as she led him back towards the dining room.

"The foibles of a bride to be; the first of many I'm sure. Didn't you know she would think it bad luck for you to see her wedding attire before your shaadi?"

"It was just a veil, that's all."

They had reached the others by then and Rachna was shaking her head incredulous, "For your sake, Rajeev, please don't you dare repeat that to her."

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Rachna followed Naomi into KT's studio holding the two envelopes, listening as her friend talked on her mobile. "Yes Aunty, I m just collecting the fabric samples right now, and will come over right after. No I don't need the driver to come over; KT has made his driver available for me today. Oh goodness they're here already; how did... Yes Aunty I realize that we should sign off them today. I'll track him down...Okay Good Bye."

She hung up and sighed, looking at her watch, and then turned to Kabir.  "The samples, KT, you have them right?"

Rachna nodded, having collected them and placed them into the packets. "Here you go Naomi, one for your mummy and one for Rajeev's mother."

Kabir hung up from the call he was on. "The driver will be here in three minutes. Don't forget that I will need to see you this evening, so we can reconfirm..."

She was dialing another number...but nodded, letting him know she had heard and then waved to the two of them as she dashed away, the couple supposed to meet the driver.

 

"Let's just look at it this way KT, we are getting a crash course in all of this. Years from now when we are preparing for Aryia's shaadi, all we will have to do is remember and draw on this experience." She smiled as she stepped into her husband's waiting hug. "I don't imagine it could possibly be any more complicated." She grinned when her husband moved his head from side to side, she thought in agreement with her, and laughed outright when he finally spoke.

"Nay Rachna, that won't be an issue, since there hasn't been a boy born yet good enough for our daughter. And I doubt there will ever be." His eyes narrowed at her impertinent reaction. "I am not at all joking Rachna Tripathi." He may have been serious, but nevertheless, he could not resist his wife's happiness. "Tell me Rachna, has it been all about our bride- to- be today, or have you and she managed to make any progress  relative to the symposium?"

Rachna stepped away from her husband and crossed her arms. "There you go again KT, underestimating the fairer sex. I told you before sir, that there is no-one more remarkable at multitasking than a mother; and today's lesson, Mr. Kabir Tripathi, is that second to a mother would be bride planning for her future. Albeit, not alone in her task, our high-strung soon to be bride now 35 days and counting to her big day, is not only pulling together her dream wedding, but she has also made great strides in creating one hell of a presentation for me to deliver at the symposium. So be very careful with your words, sir."

"Did you just say hell Rachna?"

"Ha KT, I did, between my talent and that presentation, there is no way one of those UK firms won't be interested in Banaras Beauty. Unless I am unable to attend that symposium KT to deliver that presentation, you can guarantee that Banaras Beauty will be branching out into the UK. On my own terms of course." She stared smugly at her husband. "So Kabir, while we women have been dilly dallying around, what important work has my ever so capable husband been up to; taking measurements for a couple of men's suits?"

She has no idea, Kabir thought. Absolutely no clue how attractive he found her assertiveness when it reared its head. He would have to make sure to show her a little later, but for now it seemed the gauntlet had been thrown, and it was now up to him to prove his worth.

"Ha Rachna," he agreed," just a couple of suits." He allowed her teasing dismissiveness for the moment and then continued. "But then I started to think on what Naomi's vision for her shaadi was, and a few things came to mind. Why don't you take a look and let me know if I'm on the right track. I'm not unaware the reasoning behind her lavender theme and that had me revisiting the design for her dress for civil ceremony. l know that simple was her preference, but still felt that the design was missing something." He took Rachna's hand and led her to the design board. "Simple or not, Rachna, our Pari deserves a finale worthy dress...a showstopper of her own. I think the replacement of the simple lace embroidery with the Swarovski crystals will has perfected the design. I'm thinking of a ..."

"A combination of purple mix along with the traditional," Rachna said, finishing her husband's thought. "Yes, it will be absolutely perfect, Kabir." She traced the neckline of the dress where the crystals would be placed and nodded. "The right mixture of crystals  this high will be perfect. It's amazing what those shades do for her eyes...Rajeev will be totally lost that morning." She sighed at the romantic vision.

"What say you  Rachna; not as much a waste of my time, hmm?"

"Definitely not, Kabir; this is very well thought out, and I'm sure that Naomi will love it when you show it to her this evening." She let him have his satisfaction. "Mind you," she continued, "Considering it will have been the second time today the benefits of Swarovski Crystals will have been extolled to her, do try not to be too upset if she isn't as excited as you hope her to be."

Her smugness was showing again.

"So husband, anything else you wish to impress me with?"

"Well I started looking at travel arrangements for everyone to attend Rajeev and Naomi's shaadi, as well as any subsequent time that we will like to take.  I know that the prospect could potentially be costly, so I have included your parents in these arrangements. I know that Naomi will wish for them to be there."

 

Had he truly wished to make an impression, his generosity would have been the key to his success, but Rachna knew that that hadn't been intent, and that it was just a demonstration of his heart of gold, that Kabir had been so thoughtful. Her beaming face spoke the words she couldn't and she walked into his arms, squeezing him tightly. "Thank you so much, Kabir." She would have remained there close to him, but for his sigh.

"There does appear to be one hiccup to the planning though."

Rachna stepped back from him, concerned at his troubled tone.

"It appears that I will need Sonal's approval  for Sanjay to travel with us after all."

"Oh no..."

 

Just outside the studio, Sonal leaned back against the wall and clenched her fist in triumph on hearing the first bit of good news, since everything began unravelling. Her action almost had one of her crutches falling to the ground, which surely would have resulted in her discovery, but her reflexes in catching it proved the better of the two possibilities; even this small victory had to be a sign of things turning in her favor at last. The chance sighting of  Daadi leaving home shortly after Naomi's departure had made her realize that only her nurse stood between her venturing about to see if anything could be discovered that could aid her. Emptying her placebo pills into her purse while her nurse was looking away, she had sent her out to refill them. Contacting her physician as soon as the woman left, Sonal had requested that he delay the nurse's  return for as long as possible. Opportunities such as this were few and far between, so she needed as much time as possible.

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It was an away game at a college she had never even heard of, so Naomi couldn't even aid the driver with directions when he had made a wrong turn. Appreciating that Rajeev had even agreed to meet her when he was decidedly busy prepping his team for this first round of the competition; Naomi was hesitant to call him to tell him of her delay. Instead she asked the driver where he thought they were and placed call to her Devar.

"Bhabhi I'm about six minutes from where you are, tell the driver to wait there and I will come for you. I can get you there faster than it will take for me to explain to the driver, thik hai? Stay in the car until I get there Bhabhi."

"Thank you Vihaan."

 

Rajeev looked at his watch wondering where she was. The match would be beginning in twenty minutes and he needed to focus on the game ahead. After this morning's events though, he thought it better to attend her to make up for his slip-up.  At a distance he saw a sprightly figure heading in his direction, and called out for the assistant coach to take over the ladies' warm up session.

Passing the bleachers filled with the opposing team's fans he offered cursory greetings to the bunch of young ladies who hailed him, ignoring the feminine giggles as he did so. He reached her and she stopped and turned her dangerously beautiful eyes on him, full of apology.

"I'm so sorry Rajeev, the driver got lost and I had to call Vihaan..."

"Calm down Sweetheart; it's okay. You look beautiful this afternoon."

She looked down at herself and then back up at him her cheeks warm. "I couldn't very well show up in my tracksuit, what would your mother have thought?"

He smiled at his little worrier and said nothing. She for her part just stared back at him adoringly.

Beside them Vihaan cleared his throat.  "Bhabhi you didn't come here just make eyes at Bhaiyaa did you? And hey GQ Sir don't you have a team to coach?"

"What did you call him Vihaan?"

"Naomi: the invitation?"

"Oh I'm sorry." She reached into her purse. "Somehow you mother managed to have the engraver get the proof back to us in less than a day..."

"Ma; she probably threatened them," Vihaan joked.

"Anyway I've scanned one to Mummy and Daddy already. I just needed you to have a quick look at it to make sure it's okay. I'll re-check the wording, but we just wanted to make sure everyone is happy with the design so we can get them ordered, and then we can courier half to Stefan's address for Mummy."

Rajeev reviewed them, finding nothing wrong with them. In fact he could have done without doing it all, as long as she was satisfied with them, but if the act made her happy, than he would do what he had to. Rajeev glanced over at his brother, and saw by his little brother's grin,knowing that Vihaan realized this too.  He glared at him threatening him with his eyes.

Vihaan coughed, which suspiciously sounded like laughter to Rajeev's ears, but his Bhabhi immediately turned to him in concern. "Are you okay Vihaan, do you need some water," she asked reaching in her handbag.

"Nay Bhabhi, I'm okay."

"Are you sure?"

Rajeev interrupted them, "Naomi, everything is fine. It's beautiful. It was a good choice."

She beamed. "Well I didn't pick it out by myself so, save some of your praise for yourself."

He would have willingly stayed if he could, but it was time that he got back to the team. "I have to go now Sweetheart. Can you stay?"

She looked regretful, "No I have a lot to get done, but I will speak to you tonight. I promise I will come to the next one at SVC. Good Luck." She then took a step closer to him and whispered that she loved him, before pivoting and walking away blushing when it seemed he had forgotten where he was and was about to lean down to kiss her in public.

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Naomi was in the car with Vihaan, when Rachna's message came through.

 

I need to talk. Come home as soon as you can. Will wait in the studio.

 

Naomi sent the packet of fabric samples off by overnight courier so that Mummy could receive them and pass them on to the wedding planner. After that she returned back to the Agarwal home and once there made short work of finalizing the wedding invitations with her future mother-in-law. Immediately after, she got Vihaan to drop her back to home.  As she walked in the house she noticed Sonal making her way through the lounge heading back towards her ground floor bedroom. No one else looked to be around, so she headed for the studio, rapping on the closed door before entering.

 

Rachna sat deep in thought and Naomi could not ascertain if her friend had even heard her entry.

"I came as soon as I can, has something happened?"

Rachna's response was to turn her laptop around so that it faced her friend. Naomi looked down and then startled at the topic she had brought up.

"Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 - why would you be researching this Rachna? I don't understand why..." She gasped, her hand coming to cover her mouth.

"According to what I've read, because we are married, nothing can proceed without my approval. And that's just the start... it's very complicated"

"But...are you saying...is this something KT wants to do?"

Rachna nodded.

"And how do you feel about it?"

She smiled sadly. "Even though I never expected to, I love that little boy; he is a part of our family now. Do you know what I mean?"

"I do Rachna. I love Sanjay too."

Naomi watched her friend's eyes glisten with unshed tears.  "I can't agree to it. I cannot justify removing a child from their mother's care without a good reason...even Sonal."  She blinked and dabbed her eyes. "But most of all I cannot...I will not agree, when the child is not my husband's."

Naomi had been in the process of reaching to comfort her friend, when Rachna pronounced this. She dropped her hand and sat down in the closest chair.

"The test results finally arrived, then Rachna?"

[NOCOPY]

crtkelly2016-05-20 18:16:13