Chapter 10

Chapter #8

Rajeev disconnected the phone call, and turned back to Kabir.

"They're done, I gather," the designer stated to his guest, even as he finished responding to the text message he had received from his wife at almost the exact same time as Rajeev's mobile had rung.

"Haan. I can hear the absolute exhaustion in Naomi's voice, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was Rachna who has brought an end to their visit."

"And I'm certain that it was at Naomi's insistence that I received that text. Rachna definitely wasn't in the frame of mind to do so when she left the office this afternoon.  At least it seem that she now feels okay enough to even consider returning back to the studio tomorrow," Kabir concluded.

The two men sat in silent comradery for a minute. Not surprisingly their thoughts strayed toward similar notions: how very fortunate they each were in their respective life-partners, and in particularly now, how happy they were that their wives had one another to lean on when needed.

"Well, Rajeev I will let you get going to make your apologies to Naomi...just keep in mind that her hormones will be a factor for at least another month or so tread gently with our Pari.  Thank you for your assistance though, I'm a lot further along than had I been at this task alone," Kabir indicated as he scanned the progress they had made in the studio that afternoon.

The coach nodded as he collected the bouquet of flowers from a side table.

"You have done well in creating such an ideal space for Rachna. She will be overjoyed when..." he trailed off in recognition of the overwhelming hurdles that the designer still had to navigate before he could reach his intended goal.

"Kabir, seriously, if there is anything you need; no matter what..."

"You needn't finish; I know and thank you.  I never expected this to be an easy road, and despite today's events, I am still extremely optimistic, Rajeev. Things are sure to work out very soon."

**********

Rachna was surprised how quickly she received a response to her tentative message to her employer. As uncertain as she was that she was making the right decision, Naomi had been correct: evidently Kabir Tripathi's regard for her on a professional level was such that her outburst and hasty departure from the office today would likely be overlooked.  In his answer, the designer had graciously accepted her apology in asking her to come into the office early tomorrow morning, where they could discuss how they would next proceed.

"Thik hai, I sent the message, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning."

Naomi yawned before answering. "I'm glad and you will be too in the end, Rachna: trust me."

Rachna turned her attention back to the bassinet that held the two adorable babies who, now sated, were wide awake and keenly staring up at Rachna . Their mother on the other hand appeared to be drifting off, as she sat curled up in the nursing chair beside the cradle.  Rachna checked her watch, estimating how long it may take for Rajeev to return. She smiled at her exhausted friend.

"Go to bed Naomi. I will keep an eye on the girls in the meantime until Rajeev comes..."

The young mother shook her head in response. "Nahi, Rachna, I'm fine, I promise.  I've just got my best friend back today;  despite appearances, there is no way that I am going to fall asleep on her." She yawned again and, rubbing her eyes, sat up in the chair. "C'mon let's talk," she offered with a sheepish smile.

"Thik hai, I would like clarification on one thing that has been playing on my mind for a while now," Rachna began.

Naomi hoped she didn't look too wary, as she pondered what would be asked of her.

"Why just a staircase,"Rachna queried indicating the nursery's focal point. "Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful mural, but..."

"It's our story: Rajeev's and mine," Naomi replied wistfully. "Every last step is special...however some are just a bit more special than others. Rajeev had this mural done and surprised me with it on our wedding night."

"So it's a real staircase, then?"

"Oh definitely, Ra; it exists, and to us it is completely magical. We practically fell in love on that staircase."

As she continued admiring the whimsical representation, Rachna's mind wondered at the facets of the love-story relayed in the various treads; it was plain to see that specific ones had been underscored by some painting technique to bring attention to them specifically. She walked closer to the painting and without turning around, randomly pointed to one of the specialized steps.

"This one?"

 "After I had threatened to leave Banaras in a week's time, Rajeev stopped me on that stair and demanded that I commit to spending time together every day so that we could get to know each other properly."

Rachna hesitated and then moved to the top step.

"He let me cry like a baby on his shoulder on that step when..."

Rachna turned back at Naomi's hesitation. When it seemed unlikely that the young mother would disclose the remainder of that story, she shrugged, wet back to facing the mural and moved on to another. "This one: then."

"Aacha, you have chosen the most special of all of the steps, Rachna. On that step I became the luckiest man in Banaras, when the most extraordinary, the most enchanting; the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on informed me that she loved me. The most mesmerizing, quirky female, who before I met her: I could never have imagined in a lifetime that I would come to need as much as the air I breathe, stood on that stair and claimed me as her own."

 Both women turned to find Rajeev his hands overflowing with flowers; a look of acute contrition on his face as he gazed unfailingly at his wife, who was now tearing up again because of his words.

"And then, very much like today, she kicked me out," he finished.

"Both times were for your own good. You had to leave that morning or you would have gotten behind schedule."

"Likewise, I needed to leave today, so I could reflect on my failings..."

Naomi dabbed at her eyes, and shook her head ..."Stop...we can talk when you come back from taking Rachna home."

"Nahi," Rachna interjected, turning her attention away the uncomfortably personal moment between the husband and wife, and back to the twins who had become more animated on hearing the baritone of their father's voice. She smiled at the heart melting scene "I assure you, I can make my own way home, Naomi," she continued. "That way you can finally get the rest you desperately need, and your daughters can get the attention they are obviously seeking from their father." She then walked over to her friend and reached down and hugged her. "Thank you for everything; please get some rest now. I will call you tomorrow and let you know how I've made out." She felt Naomi nod against her shoulder and then heard Rajeev indicate that he would drive her home after all. Evidently his wife had impressed her insistence behind her back, and Rajeev, being totally beholden to getting back in his spouse good books right now, had seen no alternative but to agree. Just before she departed, Rachna whispered to Naomi. "I've never seen a man so in love with his wife; you are so lucky. Please forgive him, okay?"

*********

 Bright and early the next morning, Rachna greeted the company security guard, who despite the early hour was alert and at his post. She gained access to the building and traversed the hall that would take her to her office. She passed one or two people in her journey, and greeted them uncertainly. Their return greetings were natural, and surprisingly kind, which she was glad for: she could just imagine how her actions yesterday had been perceived by her new co-workers. Or were they new, she thought? Perhaps they were not as unfamiliar as she originally thought given that she had previously been employed by KT Creations. Who knew: certainly not her?  Frustratingly she had spent part of the previous evening trying to recall anything of the past few years. Initially she had focused on her friendship with her Naomi, but beyond what had been told to her, there had been nothing: no direct recollection of their past, only what she considered the residual closeness that her subconscious had evidently upheld.  When she had exhausted that avenue, her thoughts had reverted back to her employer. For certain she knew that she must have admired him on a professional level, but beyond that she could not explain the intense emotions connecting her to him.

She stopped walking suddenly when she reached the bank of offices that were her destination. She closed her eyes and sighed in relief that the light in Kabir's office was still off. At least she would have a slight reprieve this morning.  Admittedly she was nervous of the forthcoming conversation she was due to have with her employer.  Immediately, she again contemplated the two vastly different relationships that had been revealed to her. As muddled as she was concerning her friendship with Naomi, it was no comparison for the absolute bewilderment she experienced when she considered her relationship with her boss. If she had to blame her lack of sleep on anything it would be this. If little had been garnered from her learning of her rapport with Naomi, than it was miles more than what she had been able to glean from knowing that she had worked for the designer. Well perhaps that was wrong; her attraction to the man was front and centre of their association, and honestly this was more frightening to her than anything. She didn't understand how, feeling as she suspected that she did, she had been able to work effectively with the man.   Opening the door to her office, she switched on the light and went to settle behind her desk.  Perhaps, she thought, her requesting more information on their working relationship would be the way to go to discovering the answers she needed. She quickly glanced at her watch, wondering if she had the time to telephone Naomi to ask her opinion. Automatically she took her mobile out of its holder, and then shaking her head, smiled to herself. Clearly she had adapted to having a best friend quite easily if she had no qualms reaching out so early this morning - for all she knew Naomi may not even be up right now, and the last thing the young mother needed was to be disturbed when attempting to get some much needed rest. No, Rachna thought, she would bear facing Kabir, and then contact Naomi after. Hopefully her frank chum will agree that she had taken the right steps.

******

 Her office door being slightly ajar, Kabir had the opportunity to glance into Rachna's cabin as he headed for his own. Running  behind this morning due to first having to justify to Daadi his reasoning for not involving his in-laws in yesterday's unfortunate incident and then ,in his race to take Sanjay to school, needing the time to clarify to his son that his mother would return home as soon as possible. Naturally, the lad had wanted a definitive time frame for this to happen; something Kabir hadn't been able to provide, much to the youngster's dismay. Owing to the late hours he had kept as he worked to transfer Banara's Beauty's operations to the larger workspace, Kabir acknowledged that he was not quite up to par this morning, and his responses to both his grandmother and child, perhaps not as succinct as they could have been. It had made for a challenging start to the day, and built up the tension he now felt  in advance of his conversation with Rachna; something he hadn't envisioned at all.

Consequently, this was the reason that he came to a complete standstill when he glanced over to see his wife smiling absently at her cellphone.  Right away it felt as if some of his stress dissipated just a little, and welcoming the respite, he entered her room silently.

"You cannot imagine how delighted I am to see that you have chosen to begin your day both here and with a smile Rachna."

Shaken from her musings, Rachna looked up and forcibly kept the smile on her face, unwilling to let her nervousness of  her employer catching her unawares, get the best of her. "Good Morning KT," she replied cordially. Her eyes narrowed when the man in question suddenly closed his eyes and raised one had to cover them, unconsciously reaching to rub in the vicinity of his temple. He looked terrible this morning.

"Kabir, are you okay?"

He removed his hand, and smiled feebly in response. "Nothing that a second cup of coffee won't fix...I hope."

"Nahi, Kabir no more coffee..."

"I'm sorry," Kabir questioned, stunned by sudden change in her demeanor.

Rachna had already stood and was making her way to exit. "Aacha, thik hai, why don't you get settled while I go and get us both a cup. I will meet you back in your office."

 Kabir could only nod as he watched as she left the office. He followed her direction with his eyes, and  noted when she intercepted the junior office boy who, made aware that the boss was in, had come to see if his assistance was needed this morning. She chatted to the young man briefly and then with a smile sent him on an obvious errand. She hurried on in the opposite direction, clearly on her own mission.

In the fifteen minutes that it took for her to return, the tightness in his head had blown into a raging headache, and Kabir was more than ready to throw pack a couple of painkillers. He shouldn't have waited this long he thought, as he reached into his desk drawer for the bottle of ibuprofren he kept for such cases. His door opened  just as he was pouring a glass of water with which to take the medication, and instantly, Kabir was hit with a familiar warm scent. It was the special chai recipe that Rachna had insisted he supplant his coffee addiction; a healthier alternative she had insisted, when she had first presented it to him early after their marriage. The action had been one of the many changes she had initiated in taking responsibility for this wellbeing to heart from the very beginning.

"Here, Kabir" she said as she offered the cup across the desk. "Perhaps you can give this a try before you take the medicine, she pleaded. She smiled when he nodded and closed his eyes and inhaled the aroma of the tea, before taking a deep sip.

A minute later, Kabir opened his eyes to find her still standing opposite him although her own mug of tea sat untouched on the desk. He was about to insist that she take her seat, when suddenly Rachna pivoted and headed towards the door.

"Rachna, where..."

His speech faltered, when the young woman closed and locked his office door. Her color was high when she turned back to face him, and then after an uncertain pause, began walking resolutely towards him.

"I...I know this is probably highly improper...and truly, honestly I don't have any ulterior motive... but perhaps I can help..."

She was making a complete fool of herself, Rachna thought and Kabir looked as disbelieving as she felt that she was considering this but still she approached him. Quickly, before she could change her mind, Rachna went behind his chair, and then reached for Kabir's temples before he could object.

She worked in silence. Despite it feeling the most natural thing for her to be doing, she imagined that her actions to be beyond strange to him. Thankfully, for now Kabir seemed willing to receive her offer of aid without question. Standing behind him Rachna smiled when, after a moment or so, a small sigh escaped the man. Hopefully after a few minutes more minutes of massage, and then him finishing his tea, he would feel much better.

So lost in the relief that she was providing, Kabir unconsciously reached up to grasp one of Rachna's hand with the full intention of bringing it to lips in thanks for her administering the familiar technique to aid him. She must have noticed his action, as she suddenly stopped and removed her hands. He immediately felt the loss when she withdrew from him and then, silently came around from behind him and took a seat across from him. Lowering her eyes, she focused on her chai, and took a sip of the now tepid beverage.

"Thank you, I feel so much better, Rachna."

Still holding her cup of tea, she looked up and sent him a tiny smile.  "I'm glad Kabir, especially since I suspect that I may be the cause of your tension this morning, and possibly have been for some time."

Kabir's eyes narrowed, as he attempted to decipher exactly what she was trying to say.

"After I left yesterday, I came to understand the degree of care and consideration that my family and especially my friends have taken since my accident. I envision that everyone has believed their actions to be in my best interests, and that it hasn't been the easiest thing, but it speaks to lengths they are prepared to go for me." Her smile became a little whimsical. "For instance only a best friend would have the audacity to trick me into believing ... well actually that's neither here nor there, but what I'm trying to say Kabir is thank you. Considering that you seem to have joined in with this stratagem, I can only assume that before my accident, that we had fostered a relationship beyond that of employer and employee. Perhaps we considered each other at the very least friends...at least that what it seems to me." She stopped her dialogue and looked at him with expectation. "So, after all my rambling, can you least tell me if I am at least on the right track?"

It was the perfect opening, and Kabir couldn't imagine that Rachna would be any more receptive than she was right now. Reaching for her hand, now that she had placed her cup down, Kabir felt a surge of satisfaction that she made no move to withdraw it. Instead she steadily met his gaze, and in return, he cleared his throat; finally prepared to speak their truth.

[NOCOPY]