Chapter 8

Chapter #7

She had run for an almost an hour before she got off the treadmill: sweaty but still on edge. Breathing audibly from her exertions she headed for the freestanding punching bag across the room. Grabbing first, the towel that hung on the wall hook, Sareena wiped down a bit before hanging the cloth back up. Then, after wrapping her hands, she slipped on the MMA gloves. If this didn't work, then nothing would. One quick sip of water from her bottle, and she was back at it.  As she jabbed at the bag, not for the first time, she appreciated the workout equipment Kabir had sourced and added to his home gym for her. Knowing exactly why he had done so: to prevent her from being out on the roads at the irregular off- hours that would be part and parcel of her job at the hospital, she had initially though he was worrying too much. However, now in the early hours of the morning, she understood that her adopted brother had known exactly what he was doing.

She concentrated on the combos she had learned in the classes she had taken over the years, concentrating on her form. Punch...punch...block...kick. She quickly found her rhythm and thought that definitely after this, would she be able to settle down enough to get some rest. At least that was the theory.

Another hour passed, and physically she was drained, having only the wherewithal to take a shower and to crawl, at last into her bed. She would finally be able to get some rest, now that her corporeal fatigue was greater than the unceasing thoughts that had plagued her from the moment she had stepped out of Vihaan Agarwal's arms, what was now technically yesterday.

***********

 

Around mid-morning, Daadi checked her watch, and then hailed Robin as he was passing by. However, before she could instruct the houseman in what she needed of him, she spied movement at the top of the staircase, and excused him. She turned back to her guest with a smile. "Aacha here she is. I told you it wouldn't be long."

While she had fallen asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, it seemed her consciousness had taken full advantage of her weakened state, and she had dreamed of him: mostly of them dancing, of being in each other's arms, holding each other as close as possible. In slumber she relived that moment, when she had opened her eyes,  her mind showing her what she had denied herself in reality. In her dreams, she had found the courage to reach for him in the end, when the music had died, and it had felt like only the two of them existed. She woke with his name on her lips, her body on fire, and the possibility of rest gone.

 Consequently, despite the additional time she had taken abed this morning, she felt even more exhausted than ever. Thankfully this would be an easy day, with not much on her agenda, other than going to the hospital with Rachna to visit Naomi. Perhaps, she thought, the ride over would be the perfect chance to speak to Bhabhi and seek her advice on what she should do with the issue that was most bothering her.

 

"Aacha, Sareena, beta. Come, you have a guest, " Daadi called out to her as she began down the staircase.

Savitra Agarwal watched the young woman who she thought so highly of approach. When she reached, she smiled  when Sareena folded her hands to greet her.

"Namaste, Aunty," she spoke, before she bent to offer her respects to her elder. She accepted her blessings and then turned to meet Daadi in the same manner.  When she stood back up, Daadi patted the empty spot beside her, motioning for Sareena to take a seat. Confused as to what was going on, she silently, did what was asked of her.

**********

Rajeev swung around searching for the tool he needed to reassemble the crib. Half-heartedly listening to Vihaan, he checked the immediate area near his feet, sure that the Allen key had been right there a second ago.

"Bhai, if you had been there you would understand. She's confused, but she grasps that there is still something between us. She felt the connection, I'm sure of it. I just need to put mom off for a while, to give Sareena time..."

"Or you can just go to our parents and let them know who you wish to marry, Vihaan. Let them go to Daadi and Kabir and arrange your alliance," Rajeev answered still perplexed as to how he could have lost the tool.

"Nahi Bhai, I don't want to take her choice from her."

"Bullshit."

Vihaan looked over at his brother who, somehow had come to be standing in front of him. He looked down when Rajeev, grabbed the wrench he hadn't even been aware of picking up.

"What you mean to say is that you are afraid as hell that she will deny you, outright."

His brother's closed mouthed response, confirmed that what he had said held far more truth that he wanted to admit.

"Isn't that right, Vihaan?"

"Bhaiyaa..."

"Look Vihaan, I can't tell you how to proceed in this. I can only tell you on the basis on my own experience. No matter how well intentioned you want to be, these ploys aren't worth it. I had what, a couple of weeks separated from Naomi, and it felt like a living death from my end.  And you were witness to how she felt. Keep playing around as you are, and it will end up being a lifetime. Now that you have given Mom her head to proceed with fixing an alliance for you, you know there will be no stopping her. I know it's a risk, but you have no choice but to be brave, Vihaan. I'm not saying that, going the way you are, that you won't eventually not get the answer you wish, because I'm certain she loves you too, but it can very well come too late. Perhaps I'm wrong though; maybe these past four years have prepared you enough to be separated from the one you love. If that's the case, then fine. Just know that Mom won't be as willing to let you walk away from a second engagement now."

*********   

Sareena highly suspected that her explanations were futile, as the older woman sat there with a bemused expression on her face, apparently waiting her out.

"So, for clarification, beta, the timing would not interfere with either Jack's wedding or your start date at the hospital?"

"Nahi, Aunty."

"And you understand our concerns; that they are valid under the circumstances?"

"Ji Aunty, but as I explained before they would not discharge the baby if they were not certain that the time is appropriate. He will have had a number of benchmarks to meet or surpass before then. I understand your wish for the added medical support there in the beginning just in case, but there are others who would be more appropriate than I. A pediatric nurse for instance."

Inwardly she sighed, when the older woman smiled and nodded. Finally, it looked as she was getting through to her.

"Aacha, beti: and what of Naomi? Her health is equally important to us."

"Nurses are the backbone of the medical profession, Aunty. They provide..."

"I love my bahu, but my Naomi is headstrong; to the point of being bullheaded. She will think she is capable of doing everything far too soon, and no nurse, no mother's aid will be able to stop her when her mind is set. She will push her limits straight away, to the detriment of her health."

"But she has you; her family..."

Savitra shook her head in disagreement. "We will not be with her 24 hours a day, and she will easily run roughshod over anyone we leave with this responsibility. Only you beti, could we trust to keep her on the straight and narrow."

Sareena looked over in desperation to Daadi for support. There was none to be found, as the older woman was nodding in agreement with their guest.

"Naomi, is not so irresponsible," Sareena pleaded, needing an out for what is was being asked of her.

"She would listen to you. You are her friend, and God-Mother to our grandson, but aside from that you understand the issue from a medical level, and for that she will adhere to any directive you issue, even above those of Rajeev's. We would, of course, compensate you for your time. You need only name the rate and..."

Sareena moved, horrified when it looked as if the older woman was about to fold her hands to her as she desperately continued her plea. Practically at her feet, Sareena intercepted the action by placing her hands over the older woman's. "Nahi Aunty, please don't. I would never ask you for payment. Please... You are our friends; practically family. It would be disgraceful..."

"Then why beti? Just tell me why you are so hesitant, and I will leave it be. Two weeks, and probably not even that, is all I am requesting. Just to ensure the health of our children while I attend to other pressing matters."

Sareena lowered her head, and as an extra precaution, closed her eyes, fully understanding the tasks that had the woman so preoccupied.

"Bolo Sareena."

"Because I am in love with your son, who is willingly dismissing me because you have asked him to."

The self-incriminating words sat on the tip of her tongue, but there was no way she could utter them to the older woman. She took a shuddering breath, and finally looked up. Tremulously, she smiled.

"Okay, I will do it, for one week, and then we will re-visit if any extra time is required."

******

For all his nonchalance when he had spoken with Sareena the night before, over his pending alliance, Vihaan could no longer maintain this bearing, as he waited for his mother to return from her outing this morning. She hadn't indicated her destination to anyone, and this worried him immensely. For his sake, he hoped her mission did not involve furthering her quest to find his future wife, especially with such determined females waiting in the lurch, like vultures over carrion. Heaven help him, if there was even a vein of truth to what Sareena had overheard. If not bad enough to be separated from the woman he loved, then to have her position supplanted by a wretch who saw him merely as a means to an end, was unbearable. He paced his room for a minute longer, before leaving it determined that he would need to seek out his parent.

He was in luck as, just as he had entered the lounge, that the front door opened, and the unaccounted matriarch of the Agarwal family walked in, chatting enthusiastically on her mobile. She stopped briefly to motion to one of the staff who immediately darted out the door. Vihaan came to stand before her, hoping for her undivided attention when she was finished with her call. She smiled at her youngest child as she disconnected from her call.

"Maa, we need to talk. It's important."

"I'm glad beta, as I have much to share with you as well. We will be having visitors in a couple of days. After I explained our predicament, they were more than accommodating to come to us, in order so the entire family can meet as one."

"Nahi, Maa, we shouldn't." Vihaan shook his head, disbelieving that this could be thrown at him so suddenly, "Bhabhi will just be home with the baby...it will be far too disruptive for them both. Nahi, put it off, or better yet just cancel it entirely, Maa. I really need to speak to you about this whole marriage thing today."

"Don't get nervous, beta, everything will be okay. Remember we are looking at a strict timeframe before you need to return to the UK, and there will be no better time than now. Trust me I have everything in hand."

Vihaan shook his head in opposition to his mother's arrangements, and only then did he notice the new entry. He could only imagine that her look of shock mirrored his own.

"Ma'am," the returning houseman called out to his employer, as he passed the young woman rooted in place just inside the door.

"The guestroom closest to Rajeev and Naomi's bedroom please," she instructed the waiting staff who carried the two pieces of luggage.

Unless his mother's next words were that she had preemptively brought his bride home to him, Vihaan could not imagine a worst scenario than the only other reason he could envision Sareena coming today.

"Sareena has agreed to stay and provide any extra care for Naomi and the baby need, so that I can focus entirely on you, Vihaan," Savitra Agarwal stated. She turned and smiled appreciatively at the young doctor who had taken some of the weight off her shoulders. She was such a sweet girl. "Come beti, I will help you get settled. Vihaan," she called out as passed her son, "Don't go far, I have a Bio-data that I you should read up on."

Vihaan noticed that Sareena didn't even bother to glance his way then, which was probably a good thing.

A living death, Bhaiyaa had called it. Right now, even that seemed a paradise in comparison to the hell his life would become if he didn't stop his mother's plans.

 

[NOCOPY]

crtkelly2017-03-12 19:51:41