Ariya FF The lucky charm - Page 16

Are yeh kya riya ne shree ko kiss kiya  😔 nice update dear eagerly waiting for nxt and thanks for pm

Nice part.

So, Arjun agreed only to crash Riya's lucky charm status.I think he'll be badly failed in it.

I didn't like the last part. Riya shouldn't have done that just for showing Arjun.

Thanks for PM and continue soon.

Originally posted by: ruhi1985sheetal

Are yeh kya riya ne shree ko kiss kiya  😔 nice update dear eagerly waiting for nxt and thanks for pm

thanks a lot dear for ur kind words

Originally posted by: KaziRume

Nice part.

So, Arjun agreed only to crash Riya's lucky charm status.I think he'll be badly failed in it.

I didn't like the last part. Riya shouldn't have done that just for showing Arjun.

Thanks for PM and continue soon.

riya kissed shree to make arjun jealous and to prove that she doesn't care him anyway but we know she is obsessed with him

thanks a lot dear

hello people ur update is on the way but this time i am warning you it is going to be never ending and very big but hope you are ok with it. update will be there with in next few hours.

any mistakes please forgive me this time.

love

hello people over there. this is the longest chapter i have written ever. so please bare me for this one. because i can neither skip the details nor lag the story. and even i've been facing a deadline so i thought instead of stopping in the middle i am just completing it but with long chapters. hope you like it and sorry for the errors

As I smiled up into his serious brown eyes, something aboutthe bored smirky grin on Rawthe was surprised. I could tell from the way hiseyes widened just before our lips made contact. Still, he stopped beingsurprised pretty quick and it ended up being a nice kiss, toe-curlingly tinglyand smelling of CK One and some minty brand of chewing gum. But the nicest partwas that, Arjun Rawthe wasn't smirking any more. He wasn't there any moreactually. He'd walked away, to be exact.And then Shree pulled backand he smiled.

Shree: Mein abhi aataa hoon, haan?

he said quite gently and walked off to join Rawthe who waswaiting for him with the umpire on the pitch, hands deep in his pockets.

Chotu: Arrey wah, Riyaji, you have made him forget hisEnglish even!

I heard a voice booming behind me and turned around tosee chotu, chomping pistas as usual andlooking rather hideous in a Kings XI tee shirt.

Riya: I didn't know you support Punjab, Chotu,

Chotu: Lai, I am Punjabi only! And you are looking so sonikudi! Come in and watch the match with me.

Riya: No way,I have to go to work now.

Well, I left on a high all right. But as I rattled towardsoffice in an auto, what would Shreethink? all I'd been seeing was Rawthe's smirky face so confident of victory. I'dwanted to lash out at him in any way possible.

(Don't ask me why.)

Because Arjun Rawthe didn't give a damn who I kissed. Whyshould he? What went of his father's? But something sure went of mine.

My father likes to believe he's 'broad-minded'. He's coolwith the fact that I'm still not married. But it's pretty hard to play thatgame if your daughter's picture is in the paper, kissing some cricketer on themouth. If that picture does come out, I will have to put my dad in quite anintolerable position.

Shit.

I sat around in office, a bundle of nerves till noon, whenRoshini came to me with two cups of coffee. Rosh: Are you all right, Ri? Andwhat are you wearing to work nowadays? Suits? Parandis ? Kya baat hai ?

I grabbed the coffee cup and gave her the whole story.Halfway through, she got up and yelled to Neelo to join us.

Neelo: You girls na, man, you're something g else. Why thehell d'you kiss him if you don't like him?

Riya: So that he would win, and so that bas**rd Rawthe wouldlose.

Neelo: This is what is called becoming a victim of your ownhype. So now you've started believing you are lucky huh?

Rosh: Of course not, you mor*n, She just wanted Rawthe tosee her kissing somebody else!'

Riya: I don't give a damn about Arjun Rawthe!

Rosh: Course you don't, baby, Neelo, phone lagana, callLokendar and find out what's happening there in the Kotla.

Neelo nodded. He put his phone on loudspeaker and dialled.

Neelo: Haan, Chotu? Match kaisa chal raha hai?

Chotu: You won'tbelieve it but Punjab have won, it's a historic win, a...

I put down the phone slowly. My mind was churning crazily,cataclysmic music from saas-bahu serials was playing in my ears. So the Riya kamagic chalega kya question had been answered decidedly. And I had chosen tosupport ShreeSen, from whom I hadnothing but friendly vibes. And I had not chosen to support Arjun Rawthe, a manI was almost certainly obsessed with.

Riya(m.v): Thank God I am notthe prime minister of the nation. With my powerful strategic mind, I would havetotally band-bajaoed the country.

THE Mid day

Simran

Any doubts that Arjun Rawthe may have had about the efficacyof Riya Mukherjee, a junior advertising executive at AWB, Delhi, who was bornon June 25th 1983, the new lucky charm.

The odds were decidedly stacked against Punjab when Riyaarrived, pigtailed and peppy, to eat breakfast with them early this morning.She wished the Kings XI Captain Hharviindar Singh and his Aussie vice-cap,Kevin Astle before they went in to play. And seemed especially fond of Sangrurspeedster, Shree Sen.

Punjab easily totted that much in 12 overs, with a sparkling89 by skipper Hharviindar Singh, and a truly stupendous cameo by Sen who hitthree consecutive sixes in the last over.

Riya's track record as a lucky charmis turning out to beboth consistent and impressive, and is gaining attention in IBCC circles. It isclearly no longer being dismissed as sheer coincidence, as it was earlier evenby this correspondent. Even coach Wes Harden who had said in an earlierstatement that he didn't believe in lucky charms, admitted that the Riya Factorwas 'pretty damn astonishing'

*

There was a picture of me right in the middle of thearticle, with my face looking unbelievably chubby, and my hair all pulled backin that wretched kurthi. Well, at least I'm not smooching Shree! My father canstill go to his club and drink.

Thank you, God.

***

At office Sankar forwarded a mail to me. It was from theZing! client (not idiot Ranjeet, but his boss Vaishali Paul, the top honcho atZing! Co.).

Regarding your little miracle worker. Have just got off thephone with Arjun who called to demand why Riya's been taken off the account.

He said quite nicely, but firmly that there was no mishandling. He wants her reinstated. Though no cricketer- even one as cute as this one-tellsme how to do my stuff, I'm all for it.

He says she exceeded her brief but I think, by having herremoved, that he exceeded his.

So we want her back, if she'll have us back

And by the way, Sandy.. I think I smell a romance...

Riya(m.v): And wasn't it decent of Rawthe to call her andget me my job back? And he did it today, which meant he couldn't be mad at meabout how the match turned out today. Which in turn could mean:

Option a) that he was nursing a grand passion for me in hisextremely hunky chest and was trying to woo me back from Shree (ha ha ha);

Option b) that he was a decent guy doing a decent thing andhad, maybe, a certain tepid concern for lesser beings like myself (prettypossible);

Option c) that he was scared of angering me, the High Priestessof Indian Cricket (somehow I didn't think so).

Whatever the reason, I was pretty grateful to have my oldjob back! And I stopped my KBC with the options.

I thought it might be a good idea to phone Rawthe and thankhim personally.

Hello, it's not like I was making up excuses. I had a legitreason to call and everything. And his voice was so warm and deep, my toescurled just imagining him say Hello....

Loathing 10%. Lust 90%.

Someone: Hello?'

It wasn't Nikihil's deep drawl. It was a female voice. Huskyand all. And it sounded familiar.

I said, my voice sounding high and unnatural even to my ownears,

Riya: Uh, hello, can I speak to Arjun-sir?

somehow, I was instantly convinced that the voice belongedto a certain supermodel from the Kingfisher, Not that I had any proof oranything. And I certainly didn't go.

Riya: No,There's no message as such.

And hung up

**

Well, that was it for a bit really. I was a celebrity in thecolony and at Tera Numbar but office life pretty much returned to normal. Shreecalled me a couple of times but I felt too embarrassed to take his calls. Acouple of days later, he messaged me saying he was off to Bombay to shoot forsome bicycle he endorses. And that was the end of that.

A week later, Rosh and I boarded an early morning flight andheaded for Bombay. We took a cab to the Famous Studio at Mahalaxmi to check outthe edit of her SRK. As we inched by Worli Roshini screamed and pointed to ahoarding above us. I peered out of the window, almost bumping my head againstthe roof of the cab.

It showed a chubbygirl cartoon with wildly curling black hair standing nose to nose with a dark,scowling boy cartoon in India cricket blues. The girl was smilingly offering aslice of buttered bread to the boy. The line on top advised, 'Don't skip herbreakfast, Skipper,' and underneath it a legend read, 'LUCKILY, BUTTERLYDELICIOUS - AMUL!'

I can't say I wasn't thrilled.

Shahrukh’s voice: Heyy, Roshini! Hey, dimple wali chubby Cheeks!Aren't you the new Lucky Charm, huh?'

Riya: Shah Rukh's here?

Rosh: Well, his voice is here,

she said throwingopen the door to the dubbing room to reveal a large, brown, man-mountain withlittle twinkling eyes and a bristly moustache, a headphone perched like anabsurd hairband upon his balding head ans was talking to sohan

I wandered out and skulked around in the seedy corridor,hoping to bang into people I knew,Because that's the beauty of Famous Studio.

If you hang around there long enough, you will meet everypossible person in the advertising industry in India. Its three dingy floorsare lined with dirt-encrusted, paan-streaked corridors - with not one non-fusedbulb in their AC-exhaust-filled passageways - that lead into swanky editsuites, designer animation houses, music studios and film production units. Film-makers,musicians, singers, agency people (and sometimes movie stars) come to Famous todirect/record/ approve/dub on a project-to-project basis.

There are tonnes of studios all over Bombay now, Roshini hadtold me, really fancy, plush ones where you don't need to ask for the keybefore going to theloo, but Famous is Famous!

Rosh: it's the mother ship of Indian advertising,

I met nobody I knew in the corridors, so I came down to theground floor and sat in the café where I finally spotted a famliar face. Karan,our photographer from Dhaka, smoking a cigarette and managing to lookintellectual .

Karan: Riya! Good to see you, yaar!

Riya: What you up to, Karan?

Karan: New NIKE film,You're the brief for it, you know! Itfeatures Arjun Rawthe.

Riya: Oh? Cool. Big one for you, no? Celebrity film and all!Can I see it?

I saw the Nike film. It was arjun. Arjun looked totally hot,in a grey, distressed-fabric sweatshirt, very Neo from the Matrix, and wasplaying some big dramatic shots. There was this voice-over, all echo-ey they'dmade it, and what it was saying was:

You can believe in Lucky charms

A Goddess to keep you from harm.

A lucky number on your shirt.

Some extra vowels in your name.

You can believe in luck...

Or you can believe in yourself.

And just play your game.

Nike.

Just do it.

It was really goosebumpy.

Karan: I got it from that NDTV interview Rawthe gaverecently. We're going to run it after they win their next big match. I thoughtit would be pretty topical.

Riya: It's cool. Only the voice....Who's done it?

Karan: Ignore the voice, its mine

Riya: Can't you get Arjun? This film should be really closeto his heart!(obviously huh)

Karan : Oh, he loved it, and u know I'm waiting for him tocome dub it right now.

Riya: Now? He's coming here?

Karan: Yeah.

I turned to flee Galactica B but it was too late. ArjunRawthe, casual in worn jeans and a navy blue tee had just strolled in.

His eyes lit up when he saw me (they did! they did!) and hewent.

Arjun: Riya!

I nodded wishing wretchedly that I'd had time to primpbefore banging into him. I was all bedraggled from my morning flight, dressedin a baggy red shirt of my dad's and loose unflatteringjeans. I fluffed out myhair self-consciously with one hand and tried not to think about the fact thathe'd probably spent the night with a Kingfisher calendar model.

Arjun: Hey, man! How's everything?

Arjun went in, slipped on a pair of headphones and started mimickingthrough his lines. I decided to slink away and was heading for the door whenRawthe's voice, sounding deep and growly and amplified by the dubbing mikes.

Arjun: Riya? Don't go too far. I have to talk to you.

He found me. And whywouldn't he? After all, Iwanted to be found.

I was sitting in the Famous cafe, freshly moisturized andkajal-ed, hair all bright and black. Of course my clothes still sucked but,then Arjun came and waved me

Arjun: Are you free for a bit?

Riya: Sure, skipper

Arjun: Then let's go out somewhere nice and grab a coffee.

I nodded and hitched my red rucksack a little higher onto myshoulder, trying not to look too overwhelmed.

He took the bag from me, ignoring my protests

Arjun: Come on, let's go.

He drove us to Gallops, at the race course, which was just ashort distance away. We didn't talk much. A Fan Face splitting into a largegrin, he mimed hitting a big six into the air with an imaginary bat. Then heshaded his eyes with his hand and pretended to be looking for the ball in thesky, scratching his head in a puzzled sort of way. I laughed, and Rawthe lookedat me and laughed too

Riya (m.v): Lust 98%. Loathing 2%. Actually, who am Ikidding? Lust 100%.

At Gallops, we ordered coffee and then smiled across thetable at each other. He held my hand and I was like having ding-dongbutterflies in my stomach.

Riya: Hi sir, Thank you for speaking to Vaishali. It meant alot to me.

Arjun: you're welcome.

He lookedembarrassed. A silence followed, where he just looked at me. Then, he askedabruptly,

Arjun: How are you? I mean, really. With this whole luckycharm thing hanging over your head?

Riya: Uh, okay, I guess.

Arjun: You're looking thinner.

Riya: That's good, isn't it?

Arjun: Not really, You look stressed. That's why I wantedyou to stay out of this whole damn cricket circus.

Riya: What d'you mean?

Arjun: I mean, now you're in. Say hello to uncertainty, pressure,fear, and insecurity.

Riya: What d'you mean I'm in?

He looked at me, amused.

Arjun: Don't you know, Riya? Jogpal Lohia was at the IPLmatch. He was really impressed by the way Sam's lot played with you around. Ithink he was even more impressed by the way my team crumbled. He's convincedyou're going to give us a major psychological edge.You're going with us to theWorld Cup.

Riya: What?

Arjun: I didn't want to break your friend Karan's heart inthere, but the chances of his Nike film running are zero. The Board's made mebite the Lucky Charm bullet.

Rawthe stopped and smiled at me.

Arjun: Close your mouth, Riya.

I couldn't. I just stared at him round-eyed and horrified.

Rawthe: should've thought of that before you smooched Shreeon the ugg (feeling uncomfortable)lips ,Just to piss me off.

That really was a cocky thing to say, wasn't it? I decidedto be a little cocky myself.

Riya: Oh, were you there? Did you see us? I couldn't helpmyself. I'm so fond of him

Arjun: Really? And if you're so fond of him, how come you'vebeen dodging his phone calls?'

(I had no answer to that, though, of course, I noticed - andfiled away for later gloating over the fact - that Arjun Rawthe was keepingtrack of whom I was not talking to on the phone.)

Arjun: Anyway, guess you'll be dining with him - and all ofus - a lot in Australia.

Riya: But I don't want to go for the World Cup

Arjun: No choice,

Rawthe shrugged as he poured out the coffee for both of us.Then he flourished the teaspoon

Arjun(after a pause) : Ask not what your country can do foryou, ask what you can do for your country!

Riya: I won't go,

Arjun: Say hello to emotional blackmail too. Do you knowyou've sprouted almost as many fan-clubs as Sam and Shivee?

Riya: Really?

Rawthe : Cmon , Riya, don't you want to be famous forsomething worthwhile? Instead of just lucky

Riya: But, you're famous for playing a game, That isn'texactly up there with finding a cure for cancer, you know.'

Arjun: I know, but in this country, if we did a poll, peoplewould probably be happier if we won a World Cup than if we found a cure forcancer! If they give it that much importance, I have to, too!

Riya: : Still, you're famous, you should set a good example,Indians are superstitious enough as it is.

Arjun: (kept hand on mine and breathed out) Look, you know Itried. But your record's quite impressive and as a humble rookie captain, Ihave to adopt all means, no matter how unorthodox, to win a match.

Riya: So, is this official status what you wanted to talk tome about?

(I'd been hoping he had something more personal in mind, ofcourse god I am so obsessed about jun )

Arjun: (gently) Yes, And also to tell you, that in case yourluckiness, or whatever it is, runs out, right in the middle of the World Cup, I'llbe there for you.

Shit, he really was a nice guy. No wonder his stupid teamliked him so much. I smiled up at him brightly.

Riya: Thank you, I appreciate that.

He smiled back at me, the sunlight slanting across his faceand lighting uphis Boost-brown eyes. And at that moment I found another emotions loshing around in the mixture of Lust and Loathing he usually aroused in me.

Another 'L' word.

Riya (m.v): Liking.

Zing! had obviously exhausted their budget for this ad filmbecause Rosh and I had to share a room at the Taj Land's End. Which was okay,because I like her, even though she takes ages in the loo. Tonight, after she'dput both her kids to sleep and argued amicably with her husband for a while.

Rosh: So, how was the coffee session with the hottestskipper?'

Riya: Okay. I told you about the IBCC thingie, didn't I?

Rosh: Not that! I mean how was the vibe, the mood, the,y'know, connection?

Riya: Roshini, there is no vibe as such. He was just beingnice, okay?

Rosh: Yeah, but why? There's no need for him to be nice toyou. Or buy you coffee or anything.

Riya: Please,Supermodels answer his phone, for heaven'ssake.

Rosh clambered off the bed, picked up a magazine from thecoffee table and chucked it at me.

Rosh: Take a look at this!The favourite things page, Ri!Read it!

I found it. Rawthe was in there, laughing into the camera,These are a few of my favourite things was written across his front in acurly-whorly font:

Fav food: Paranthas. Sorry, not wines or meat or anythingexpensive like that.

Fav one-liner: Just Do It!

Fav bedroom line: Just Me!

Fav Fantasy: Very basic actually, slanting sunshine, abottle of wine, masses of long dark curls upon a creamy white pillow...

Fav perfume: None. Don't use any. Not a big fan of it onwomen.

Fav place: A cricket pitch

Fav trait in a woman: Courage. I like gutsy women.

Fav drink: Zing! Obviously!

Fav. Band: Beetles

Fav Person: Mom

Fav Dream: The World Cup in my hands

I read it through and looked up all innocently, even thoughI knew what was coming:

Riya: What?

Rosh: The hair, Your hair, Ri! It's unmistakable! He is soin love with you!

Riya: Roshini, you of all people should know that guys don'tfall for me. They just use me - and not even for making love with me.

Rosh: Okay, okay, fine, you never used to mind when Iteasedyou about Shah Rukh.

There were cars parked all along the drive at Tera Numbarwhen I reached home, feeling tired and exhausted. I looked at the line-upblankly as I paid off my auto guy and then remembered. Lunch in the hag's partof the house.

Anita Chachi's hot in a middle-aged, skimpy-choli-ed way.She's all for selling the kothi, splitting the moolah and moving 'south'.Thankfully, nobody listens to her.

And sighted Kattu, a horrid sight in a too tight, whitebandgala with a red carnation in his buttonhole. He was holding hands with anincredibly beautiful girl in a silver halter and white sari. She was gorgeous.Seriously. I should've dropped dead. That's how gorgeous she was. Totalconsternation swept over me as I realized that Kattu had 'rejected' me evenbefore I'd had the chance to rejecthim. This was his engagement party.

Anitha: Riya! Beta, come in meet the lovebirds.

Kattu’s mom: I'm sorry, I should have informed you, par youwere so busy with your cricket-shiket. In fact, (turned to my dad) aapki Riya toh cricket team ki Draupadi hi bangayee hai.

I looked up, blinked, and sneaked a look at my dad. Helooked pretty serious.

Riya: Arrey nahi, auntie, side nahi hai aunty bas mein,

Gaju chacha: Arrey Riya is born lucky.

Dad: Yes, yes, Gajju,

Kattu: Riya's very friendly with all the team, she was mentioning it when we went out for a - he looked here and there and actually had the grace to blush - friendly dinner the other day...

Anitha chachi: arrey, the whole world knows that it's riya,jis par Shree Sen ne dil khoya....

Yogu chacha: What terrible rhyming. Is that original-Anita,or are you quoting someone?

Anitha chachi: It's from Mid-day. Where Riya'sbeing featured regularly. I'm surprised you allow it, bhaisaab.

I'm surprised you read that rag,

Dad: (cutting mid) Riya's life is her own. She showed me the article in question herself, by the way, Anita. Sorry if she stole your time.

I know my dad, and I knew there was trouble ahead.

Roshini dispatched Neelo to Bombay the next day to carry outall the changes on the Shah Rukh film.

Rosh: Why are you looking like such a bheegi billi today,anyway?'

I told her about the lunch yesterday, the cocky Kattu, the beauteous Neha and what my stupid aunt had said.

Rosh: What a bi**h, Don't worry, Ri.

Riya (smiling)So you don't think that's what everybody in office thinks too, do you?'

Rosh: (comforting) Naah, Besides, why would you care? You should just care about what your dad thinks.

We started talking about work after that. Sandy had handed me a new Hot Crust brief for Rosh and I quickly filled her in on it.

Rosh: So why can't Hot Crust make a twenty-nine-minute promise or something?

Riya: That was the first question I asked. They won't.

Rosh: But you're saying fastest deliveries, How can you say that if it isn't true?'

Riya: Don't say it, The legal people say if you just imply it, very strongly, our face is covered.

Rosh rolled her eyes. She hates the legal guys with a passion. They keep ruining her taglines with their murmuring.

Rosh: Okay, anything else you want to tell me?

Riya: Well, we do have this one thought starter, How about if we promise Hot deliveries? That will imply fast, because they're still hot when you get them, see?

Rosh isn’t impressed.

I ran along. There was nothing much for me to do on Zing!because all they were doing was cricket. As I saw layouts lying around theservicing area and looked wistfully at close-ups of Rawthe's face smiling out at me with GOLA RESTAURANT ZING! RS 10 ONLY across his front, the phone ran

It was some dude from IBCC. He wanted to meet me to hammer out the details and 'firm up' my contract with the Board! I bit back my panic,acted as savvy as I could, asked him to call me again in the evening, and rushed into Sandy's room screaming

Riya: Help!

Sandy ( visibily irritated): What?

I told him. He rolled his eyes at me.

Sandy: Just tell the guy you'll meet him tomorrow with your lawyers.

My lawyers? Hello, I'm a lowly account executive, drawing a twenty grand basic every month! I don't have any lawyers! I tried to say as much to Sandy but he just waved a hand dismissively.

Sandy: Now get that HotCrust thing done, will you? Those guys are really on my case.

I told him what Rosh had said, that we'd get nothing beforeday after tomorrow, second half. He muttered totally unacceptable, hauled himselfout of his chair and headed for her room, the tuft of hair on the back of hishead moving dangerously.Five minutes later, the door of her cabin opened andSandy emerged. He looked at me and said,

Sandy: Day after tomorrow, second half.

Riya: Okay

Sandy: What you grinning about? Go call up that IBCC guy andget your meeting organized.

I ducked into Rosh's room again. She was on the phone withNeelo, discussing the Shah Rukh film changes. She slammed down the phone andpulled out a cigarette. I eyed her warily as she lit up with shaking hands,exhaled a long stream of smoke, and said, in a very mild voice

Riya: I told Sandy I can't give you HotCrust earlier.

Rosh: I know, D'you want to brainstorm on it?'

She glowered at me for a bit. These creative types hate itwhen they feel the servicing people are managing them. Then she shrugged.

Rosh: Okay,What we need is a symbol, something that cuesspeed and swiftness without our having to say it.

Riya: Cheetahs?

Rosh: No, Ri! Like Formula One racing.

Riya: But the delivery guys ride bikes...

Rosh: That's true. So we can't do cowboys drawing their gunsat lightning speed either. Hey, maybe we should get Abhishek Bachchan and dosomething Dhoom-ish?

Riya: Too expensive,These guys loot the bank getting JavedJaffrey to endorse the product.

Riya: What about our Hot delivery idea?

Rosh: Nope. It's too layered. The other guys are saying fast.We have to say fast too...

I didn't expect her to come up with anything till day after,so I was surprised when she came and folded up on the chair next to me while Iwas talking to the IBCC dude on the phone that evening.

Rosh: I've crackedyour HotCrust thingie, What do you think of when I say fastest deliveries?

Riya: What?

rosh: shree Sen! The world's fastest delivery record holder.169 kmph! Actually, that's second-fastest but who cares?

Basically, she wanted HotCrust to tie up with Shree. And gethim to deliver HotCrust pizza for a week. On a Dhoom-type bike, or something.It was strange, but it could work. Except that Shree wasn't on contract withHotCrust.... But if HotCrust gave some free Zing! away with the pizzas, Zing!Co. might be willing to let HotCrust have him free. Of course, the bike ideamay be unfeasible because of security reasons but I'd voice that concern later.

Sandy liked Rosh's HotCrust concept. We took it along andgot approvals from both Zing! and HotCrust the next day. Now the next crisiswas, of course,Shree's dates. So I called Chotu.

Chotu: Where are you, Riyaji? And who's looking after yourlegal affairs?

I told him what Sandy had told me. That the head of Zing!Legal would come along for the meeting with the IBCC guys today at five.

Chotu: That buffoon Saldhana? If any chance mein hoon na

I told him he was welcome to come along. The wholeconversation felt totally unreal.

Riya: But what about Shree's dates? We'll need to take himthrough the scripts.

Chotu: He and Arjun are in Delhi only, to judge the MissIndia Contest. You know he will make himself free, Riyaji. He thinks of youvery highly.

Chotu said he'd see me at the IBCC meeting and hung up.

**

We rolled in to the Taj Mansingh business centre at aquarter to five. Me, Sandy, Joel Saldhana from Zing! Co., Chotu, trailing pistashells behind him like an overfed Hansel, and, looking a little bewildered byit all, my dad.

The smiling lady showed us into a long conference room wherefour guys in dark suits and one bulbous dude in bright orange robes, sportingJimi Hendrix dreadlocks, were seated. We all did some hello-helloing, and thenthey handed us the contract they wanted me to sign.

It took me forty minutes to read through the whole thing andto kind of grasp what it meant. I read the ten lakhs bit right in the beginningthough. because they'd written it in big type and it kind of jumped out of thepage at you. It was good money for someone like me who hadn't ten thousand inthe bank. But some of the clauses in the contract worried me.

Like, where had they picked up the phrase facial cheek?Whatwas all that stuff about kisses? Why couldn't I get married? Why couldn't Iendorse brands? And why did I have to defer to the 'team leadership and chainof command'? That sounded like Rawthe and Wes Hardin could really push mearound!

As I read the thing through, I felt my (facial) cheeksgetting hotter and hotter. When I reached the end of the page, I looked up andasked, in a voice that was shaking slightly,

Dad: Is this some kind of a joke?

At the other end of the table, my dad snorted loudly inagreement. None of the IBCC guys said a word.

Chotu : Ten lakhs? That's it? You are expecting my youngclient here to disrupt her professional life, experience,her...um...distasteful physical contacts and go through so much ups and downspsychologically for this chawanni sum?

Saldhana: And why can't my client get married if she likes?

The IBCC contingent, obviously taken aback at thisonslaught, turned to look at the godman-type dude in mute appeal.He inhaleddeeply, put his palms face down on the polished table top and said calmly,

Oldman: We fear marriage may affect her powers.

He turned towards me,locked his hypnotic, boiled-looking eyeballs with my indignant ones and said ina kindly voice that sent a shiver down my spine,

Oldman: You see, your virginity is directly proportional to your purity, Devi.

I almost choked. How humiliating. Now this entire room knewthat at the grand old age of twenty-seven I had still not been relieved of my virginity.And how did the old variety know anyway?It wasn't like I was walking around with a STILL-A-VIRGIN glow-sign on myforehead. So it had to be total guesswork on his part. Whatever. He wasseriously intruding on my personal space.

Riya: Listen, you're seriously intruding on my personalspace,

The god man said nothing, but all the legal types leapt upand started making a lot of soothing noises, saying nothing was final. My dadheld up one hand, and such was the impact of his flaring nostrils that they allbacked off one by one.

Dad: Gentlemen, I will be honest with you. The money is tempting. Besides, my daughter is dutifuland would like to be of service to her country. But she is not a minor. Even Icannot tell her to wed or not to wed, to fast or not to fast. How can youpeople do so? There are too many conditions to this contract. And forgive me,but I have to add that it's also extremely crassly worded. So I'm sorry, youroffer, as it stands, is unacceptable. (He turned to look at me.) Right, beta?

I nodded back gratefully.

Riya: Right, Dad.

**

The next day, Rosh, Neelo and I drove down to the Taj totake Shree through the HotCrust Fastest Deliveries concept.Roshini grinnedknowingly at me as I got into the car.

Rosh: Nice lipgloss, I hear Rawthe's staying in the samehotel as Shree.

I just looked away.

Shree was already in the lobby, studiously ignoring a gaggleof about ten giggly Miss India contestants, when we breezed in through therevolving doors.

Shree smiled up through his tousled curls and bounced to hisfeet when he spotted our little party. Shree: pranaam, I'm Shree.'

Rosh:Oh we know that!

she gushed, while I,frantic to show I wasn't in love with him, limited myself to a cursory

Riya: hi

But he was fully enthusiastic. He went, all booming andbeaming. He came forward like he was going to give me a hug and then for somereason, didn't.

Shree: Hello riya,How are you? Maine suna you're coming withus to Australia?'

Riya: Nothing's certain yet

I said, wondering if he had any idea about the idioticcontract I'd been asked to sign. Who knows, maybe he was the one who'd put inthe 'facial cheek' caveat. Trying to look all professional, I asked him in abusiness-like way:

Riya: : It'll take a little while. Shall we go to the coffeeshop?

He nodded and stood up again, bouncing slightly on the ballsof his feet, his hands in his pockets. The girls behind us gave out littlehysterical screams. I heard one of them shriek,

Rosh: He did greet us very kindly ! He's too yum, ya!

Shree looked at us, an expression of comic alarm on his faceand asked,

Shree: Can we go up to my room instead? Coffee shop meinkaafi crowd hai!

Rosh: Lead the way,

he walked us to the elevators. Going up, Neelo explained toShree that Rosh was his boss and responsible for most of the Zing! Stuff he sawon TV. An awkward little silence followed.

Riya: Um, this is quite a unique concept she's thought up,it's been tailor-made for you.

AND then rosh narrated the concept.

Shree: Great, Only, I hope it won't take up too much time.We have only got three weeks off and I want to go home for a while.

Rosh: Where do you live, Shree?

Shree: In Sangrur district ji, Family home wahin hai.

Then Neelo and Roshini explained the HotCrust FastestDeliveries conceptto him as I looked about the suite. It was pretty plush.Would the IBCC put me up in a room half as nice as this if I promised to'maintain my spinster status' and went to Australia with the team, I wondered.

Rosh: Riya?

I snapped back to the here and now and looked at herguiltily.

Rosh: Shree was asking how many houses we'd be visitingevery day and what the security arrangements would be like.

I nodded and pulled out my notes.

Shree: I like the concept, It will be very fun. Also,reality shows are very nice. But the dates you'll have to discuss with Chotu.

Neelo: No problem,We'll get it done.(after a pause)So whendoes the judging start?'

Shree : Now. I haveto go down to the poolside. I do not dothese things usually but Harry sir has phasaaoed me. He was supposed to do itbut cancelled last minute.

Rosh: Neelo! Shut it let him go! Shree, nice meeting you,catch you at the event launch, ya?

%%

Rinku Chachi and I watched the Miss India Final that nighton her TV. She'd made hamburgers for dinner - spicy aalu tikki really - andcold coffee in big glasses. She was very excited about the fact that I knew notone but twopeople in the contest. Arjun Rawthe, of course, andAyesha, who wasgoing to come in at the end of the show to crown the new Miss India Universe. Thefive final contestants were all lined up and pulling judges' names out of a hat.The first babe drew a card withShah Rukh Khan's name on it and almost died ofhappiness.He dimpled at her charmingly and went,

SRK: Good evening, Urvashi, If you could marry a film starlike me, or a business mogul like Andre here, or a cricketer like Arjun, whichone of us would you marry and why?'

I waited for her to say that she would marry the man shehappened to love, regardless of his profession. But she didn't! She simperedand said that while she appreciated his acting and Andre's contribution to thenation's economy, she would marry Arjun because she was a patriotic girl and hewas a soldier who fought for the country. And she got a standing ovation! Theycut to Arjun and he smiled ather and everything! It was so cheesy! And RinkuChachi clapped too.

Rinku chachi: Bhai, ten out of ten! Kitna good answer diyana, Riya?

I looked at her, completely disgusted. I wanted to tell her,remember your ugly nephew, Rohan? He was a soldier who fought for his country.Arjun Rawthe was just some overpaid, over-hyped pretender. But she wasn't evenlooking at me. She was looking at the TV where the next babe had drawn a cardwith the name of the spurious soldier, Captain Coldheart himself. Well, I knewwhat was on his mind when he pinned his Boost-brown eyes on her.

Arjun: Do you believe in luck?

Poor girl, it was an out-of-syllabus question and she gotreally rattled. She started off by saying that we make our own luck, thenchanged her mind and said luck was another name forblessings from God, andwound up by looking very confused and wretched and said that she wasn't sure.

There was a strained silence and then

Rawthe( leaned in) :Mysentiments exactly.'

That got a laugh. The other judges and the large-toothedcompere all applauded madly.

Arjun : Well done, Deepika,

Rinku Chachi went to the kitchen to fry some more tikkis forGajju while I sipped my cold coffee thoughtfully and wondered if Rawthe knewabout my dad's blow-up with the IBCC yet. I didn't think he did because I hadbumped into him in the hotel lobby after our meeting with Shree. He'd beenwrestling grimly for his kitbag with an overenthu bellboy who wanted to carryit for him. He'd spotted me, said a surprised hi and suddenly let go of thebag. The bellboy had almost fallen over backwards.

Maybe he thinks I'm following him around, I thoughtgloomily. First Famous Studio, now the Taj lobby. And before that the elevatorin the Sonargaon! Oh God, that's it! He probably thinks I'm a total stalker!Maybe I should call him and tell him I'm not. I fished out my cellphone .Andthen it rang. I almost dropped it in surprise but recovered and hit the answerbutton.

Riya: Hello?

Arjun: Riya?(A toe-curlingly deep, warm voice)It's Arjun.'

Riya: Arjun,( I said like a witless person)Uh...Arjun, kaun?

Arjun: Arjun Rawthe. You know, from Dhaka? I play as skipperfor Indian team, we had breakfast with u I am that humble small person

My eyes swivelled to the TV instantly.

Riya: But you're on TV!

Arjun: The show got over an hour ago. It's not really live,you know.

Riya: Oh, (idiotically)Who won?

Arjun: Urvashi, I think...Listen, I know it's very shortnotice but is it okay with your dad if I take the two of you out for dinnertonight?

Huh? Arjun Rawthe wants to take Rinku Chachi and me out fordinner? Then I realized he meant Dad and me. He must've been briefed on theIBCC meeting.

Riya: My dad's out of town. But I'm available!

He sounded a bit like he was laughing as he said,

Arjun: Okay. Message me the address. Pick you up in half anhour.

I told a confused Rinku Chachi that I was going out fordinner.

Riya: Oh, and bythe way, bet you a thousand bucks Urvashiwins.

The moment I was downstairs I got cold feet. Damn, I'd beenovereager, hadn't I? I'd yelped and squealed and actually said I was available.I wondered if I should call Arjun back and say that I was actually at a rockingparty and had somehow managed to forget that while talking to him. I would justhave to be extra cool when we met.

Still, at least getting ready was a no-brainer. After seeingall those hot Miss India contestants on TV, I decided the smartest thing to dowas to not try at all. wondering if I'd dreamt the phone call. Clearly not, forin a while my phone rang again.

Arjun: I'm here, Are you going to open the gate?

Riya: No, no, I'm coming out,

I said hurriedly andmade a dash for the door, leaving Eppa flummoxed, watching Kyunki in thedrawing room, with Meeku snoozing by her side.

I slipped out of the gate, and peered about. Then Arjunstuck his head out of the driver's window of a long white Taj car and waved tome.I dove in through the other door. Hi, I went breathlessly.He pushed his darkhair off his forehead.

Arjun: New Rohtak Road? You live on New Rohtak Road? I'venever heard of New Rohtak Road in my life!

Helooked perfectly edible and hot. And perfectlyexasperated.

Riya: Well, it's Karol Bagh technically, But that sounds uncool,so I say New Rohtak Road.

Arjun: But that's deliberate misdirection!

he exclaimed,throwing up his hands and sitting back in the driver's seat.

Arjun: Riya, you're nuts, you know that, na?

About you, I thought idiotically, fiddling unnecessarilywith the seat belt clasp. I was finding it hard to look at him, because, hello,he was just sitting back and looking at me.

Like he was really happy to see me.

Like he thought I was nice....

More than nice. Maybe even...pretty?

I managed to look up at him and say.

Riya: No, I'm not.

Arjun: Hey, is that your dog barking?

Riya: Ha arjun , that's Meeku. He's a mix between a LhasaApso, a Bhutanese Peke, and an Indian Hound.

Arjun: You mean he's a mongrel,

Riya: No, he's not, He's a mix between a Lhasa Apso, aBhutanese Peke, and an Indian Hound.

Arjun: He's a mongrel, Riya,

arjun repeated, grinning even wider, that warm look in hiseyes again.

Riya: Mix

Arjun: wahi .mongrel,

he said, very softly, leaning in and looking me right in theeye. My cheeks felt hot. I was not sure why. It wasn't like what he was sayingwas terribly intimate or anything. But the effect it was having on me was as ifhe had leaned in and softly said, Take off your shirt.I somehow managed to keepmy voice steady,

Riya: well, yes, actually, but that sounds so...

Arjun(completing me): Uncool, u are nuts.

he said, drawing away much to my relief. He turned his head to look out of the car window then, so Ilooked out too. I examined the gate of my own house with great concentration,as if I didn't see the stupid, rusty, decrepit thing fifty times a day. It wasa pretty unremarkable gate, with an embarrassing number of nameplates nailed onto its brick gate posts

I was thinking gloomily that he probably lived in a house with a beautiful wrought iron gate with no nameplate at all when he said,making me jump a little,

Arjun(smiling cutely): What smells so nice?

Riya: Huh?Oh that, Madhumalati, My mum planted it.

Arjun: (spelling carefully) : Madhumalati, It's lovely.Wild, but sweet.

Arjun: So, where d'you want to eat dinner?

Riya: Actually, I've already eaten,

Arjun: Oh great! Listen, I haven't been able to hit thread mill today, d'you think we could take a walk someplace?

Riya: But what if people recognize you? They may beat you up!

His face darkened immediately and I almost bit my tongue off.

Riya: Sorry, Stupid thing to say.

He nodded.

Arjun: Yeah. Contrary to what you may think, people don't hate me just because we lost a couple of matches.

Keep telling yourself that, I thought, but what I said,rather fervently, was:

Arjun: I know, I know. You're a great player; you're the hope of India, you're ready to walk,Can we hit the road or something?

So I ducked in through the gate and got him a hooded sweatshirt of Rohan's from off the washing line. He wore it instead of his fancy jacket and with the hood pulled way down low he did look pretty much like everybody else, only taller.

Then he parked the hotel car in Gajju's spot (with me hoping to get back from this walk before Gajju returned or there'd be a huge family crisis which could escalate into Gajju going on a daal-ladle-hurling spree) and set off for a long walk down the main Ajmal Khan Road.

This road - made famous through a million radio ads for saris, jewellery, suiting-shirting and pressure cooker shops that all sign off with a sing-song Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh, Nai Dilli - starts after you cross rows of parked cycle-rickshaws with their drivers slumbering all curled up below the trees, the action begins to heat up. You spot peanut sellers and machine-ka-cold-water carts. And once you cross the first red light, Ajmal Khan Road turns into a bright, spangled gypsy's ribbon, unrolling blithely before you in a gay street carnival.

Rawthe: I thought this place was closed on monday!

Rawthe said, pulling his hood lower in a bemused sort of way as we emerged from under the trees and into the thick of the action.

Riya: It is,This is the famous all-night monday cart-market.

Rawthe shook his head at a bunch of grinning kids indicating that no, he didn't want to buy a toy cellphone, red heart-shaped balloons, aplastic badminton racket or a pair of pink sunglasses.

Shopkeeper: Yes-madam-bellies? Yes-madam-tee shirts?Yes-madam-baggies?

Arjun: You sure you don't want a bellies? (grinning)Or abaggies?What is a "baggies" anyway?

Riya: No, I don't want either,' I told him. 'A"bellies" is a flat shoe that will make me look short and a"baggies" is a very outdated trouser. Come on, aren't we doing this for exercise?

He followed reluctantly, trailing behind me a little,looking at all the crazy stuff on sale on the road, We passed carts piled high with rosy red apples, knobby grey-green water-chestnuts and bright yellow nimbus. We passed carts selling fake Dresden China shepherdesses and porcelain doggies, mosquito nets, fake flowers and digital watches. Then, at a cart piled high with plastic kjun-knacks, Arjun pounced on a red plastic fly-swatter-cum-back-scratcher.

Arjun: This is great!(enthusiastically)It's a two-in-one. Ican kill flies and scratch my back as well.

Riya: That's kind of the idea,

I said, grinning as he waved the idiotic thing around, his eyes all shiny under his stupid sweatshirt hood and tried to swat me with it. Iducked and said hastily, my self-preservation instincts coming into play,

Riya: You know what? I think I want one too!

He fished out his wallet and bought two fly-swatter-cum-back-scratchers for ten rupees.

Arjun: There's so much energy in this place, It's unbelievable!

He couldn't have said anything to make me like him more. The KB monday night market is my most favourite thing on the planet. I beamed up at him happily in the light of the bright naked bulbs strung above us,

Riya: Isn't it? Uh...watch out, bull ahead!

We stepped around the placidly majestic bull .I led him towards a street corner where an old sardarji presided over a massive flat copper skillet, frying mashed potato cutlets . The steam, coupled with the magical tunnnggg! tunnnggg! of his metal skewer hitting the skillet was attracting people to him in droves. We queued up for our turn, inhaling appreciatively, tucking our hands into our pockets.

Arjun: It's going to take a while, I think,

The guy in front of us turned around and nodded, grinning.

Guy: Ten minutes at least...Sardarji's very famous.

just then a runny-nosed little then came and handed us two cups of tea.

Sardar ji: Complimentary hai ji,

he said smilingly, exposing a gap in his front teeth.

We thanked him and sipped our tea in silence. Then Rawthesaid abruptly,

Arjun: Look, I'm sorry about that whole episode with the lawyers. Please tell your father that we'll fix it up any way you want, no conditions, no obligations. The important thing is for you to come to the World Cup with us.

I didn't say anything, just cradled my glass of hot chai and blew on the icky brown-orange skin floating on the top. A million thoughts went through my head, number one being Anita Chachi's cheap Draupadi crack.

Riya: Why?

Arjun: You know why.

I laughed, not very happily.

Riya: Because I'm lucky. You don't really believe that,doyou?

Arjun: No,but my boys do. Even the ones who didn't come with us to Dhaka. They've seen that Australia match footage a million times and are convinced you're a miracle, a Goddess.

Riya: And you, Arjun-sir? What do you think?

He said, with mild irritation,

Arjun: Will you please not call me Arjun-sir? If you were born in June '83 you can't be more than two years younger than me. And it makes me feel really old. Like those dudes in the serials whom all the pretty girls are always calling Mr Bajaj or Mr Walia.

Riya: You watch those serials? (momentarily diverted).

arjun: (shrugged)Sure. They're pretty hilarious.

Riya: They're supposed to be tragic, But look... uh...Arjun,did you read that piece of paper they wanted me to sign?

Arjun: I did today, Then I tore it up and threw it away. Forget about it. Just come as a guest, an honoured guest.

I shook my head, swinging my fly-swatter-cum-back-scratcher around uneasily.

Riya: I felt so cheap. You have no idea. There was this hairy troll in orange robes who went on about my "virginity" being directly proportional to my "purity".

Arjun:Sounds like Jogpal Lohia's Lingnath Baba, He's a joke.

Riya: Well, the joke was on me, And my dad...he was very quiet about it, but I think he was upset at the tone of the whole contract. He was already hassled because the family's been making snide remarks about Shree and me.

Arjun placed his hand on the small of my back and nudged me closer to the sardarji's sizzling tikkis.

Arjun: I figured it was something like that,Do you think it'll help if I speak to him?

I nodded, feeling that this could not actually be happening.

Riya: Yeah, I guess. It should help.

We'd reached the front of the line then and the oldsardarji, He dished out four spluttering golden-brown tikkis into two leafplates, sprinkled them with juicy, freshly grated carrots and sweet whiteradish, ladled on two kinds of chutneys - a sticky-sweet tamarind one and alethal green chilli one - and sent us on our way.

Arjun looked at his tikki gingerly, cocking one eyebrow.

Riya: Isn't this seriously unhealthy? Worried you'll put onweight or worried that you'll get the runs?

Arjun: Both actually.

Riya: Sports quota variety,

Arjun: Karol Bagh type,

We walked home through the park, chatting easily, Rawtheswinging the fly-swatter-cum-back-scratchers with one hand as we passed belowthe huge neem trees. He bought a paperbag of unshelled peanuts from an old lady and we ate them sitting on the swingsin the deserted kiddie park. He did this really nice non-starry thing with thepeanuts. He kept shelling them and handing them to me to eat. I didn't have toremove a single one myself. Well, Chotu did the same thing, and with pistas,which are way more expensive than peanuts, but somehow I'd never gone weak atthe knees thinking about how considerate he was.

Arjun: You know...

Riya: What?

I asked, holding out my hand for more peanuts.

He dropped a shelled handful into my palm.

Arjun: We could've gone out somewhere fancy for dinner. Someplace expensive. Gotten our picture in the papers...

I looked up at him, puzzled. His tone was odd. I couldn'tfigure it out.

Riya: But I'd eaten already, And you said you wanted towalk. Sorry...did you want to go somewhere fancy?

He shook his head.

Arjun: No, baba,

he said, looking at me,eyes alight with amusement.

Arjun: I didn't. But you're really a cheap date, Riya.

Riya: It's all part of my simple unspoiltcharm,

I assured him, shovelling peanuts into my face.

Arjun: Yeah, right,(laughing)

Then he leapt up and started running nimbly back down thelane to my house, while I trailed him slowly, surreptitiously fluffing up myhair and sneaking peeks at his butt. I wondered what Arjun Rawthe was doinghere anyway, at a little past midnight, in my brother's grubby sweatshirt, thestrings hanging idiotically around his chin, asking me questions about my life?Why wasn't he with the other rich beautiful people doing rich beautiful things?What did he want with me?

Well, he wanted me to come to Australia with the team, thatmuch was clear. But that was just a fifteen-minute conversation. And it wasover. So why was he lingering? Was this usual? Did he do this with everymid-leveladvertising executive he met?

Of course, I didn't ask him any of these questions. I justchattered away as he ran circles around me, ignoring his complaints that I waswalking too slowly, and acted like there was nothing extraordinary going onhere at all. And so, by the time we walked up to my gate, I realized I'd toldhim all there was to know about Tera Number and AWB, the twin pillars on whichmy life was built. He, on the other hand, hadn't talked that much, just noddedand listened, his eyes gleaming appreciatively every now and then. A slightdrizzle had started to fall, so we sheltered under the overhang of themadhumalati and he made me business card my dad's number to him, not at all out of breath,

Arjun: Thank you for a lovely evening.

Riya: Thank you too,(politely)Goodnight.

An awkward silence followed. I reached out to take my stupidfly-swatter-cum-back-scratcher from him and in the process both of them fell onto the pavement. Rawthe bent down to help me pick them from among the thicklystrewn madhumalati blossoms and we knocked our heads together hard.I saw starsand from the dazed look on his face, so did he.He pulled back and looked at me,rubbing his forehead.

Arjun: What is wrong with you? (exasperatedly)

Riya: Sorry,

I winced and giggledat the same time.

Arjun: No, I'm sorry, (rolling his eyes)'My head hurts.

Riya: We should bang our heads together again, Nahi toh ablack dog will bite you.

He raised his eyebrows at that.

Arjun: And who's being superstitious now?

He had a point there. I shrugged.

Riya: Me, I guess. It's just something Eppa says.

Arjun: Maybe she just likes to bang Rohan and your headstogether,

he said, still rubbing his own ruefully.

Arjun: Maybe that's how she gets her kicks. Ever thought ofthat?

Riya: No, actually,

I laughed, warming up to him for talking about my familylike he knew them.

Arjun: Anyway, who am I to argue about superstition? So,where's your head again?

He asked resignedly and came closer to me. I closed my eyes,still giggling, and braced myself for the collision. But nothing happened.There was just the feel of his lean, strong fingers cradling the back of myneck. Suddenly I was almost scared to open my eyes. But aftera while, I did. Iblinked and looked up. He was looking down at me. His face was very still, hiseyes unreadable.

Arjun: Your hair's so soft

I didn't know what to say. I mean, thank you would'vesounded idiotic in the circumstances. So I just looked up at him, though itwasn't easy. His Boost-brown eyes were mesmerizing. Then his gaze slid and Irelaxed a little, only to realize that he was now looking at my mouth.

Arjun: I really want to kiss you, you know, (he saidsoftly)I've been wanting to, all evening.

He touched the centre of my lower lip gently with onecalloused thumb.

Arjun: Right here.( But then he said, even though his thumblingered, )But I'm not going to, okay?

Riya(smitten): Okay,

I whispered back idiotically, really for the lack ofanything to say.

He shook his head and laughed, sounding half amused, halfamazed.

Rawthe: Aren't you going to ask me why, Riya?

Riya: Not if you don't want to tell me, And listen, ifyou're not going to kiss me, do you to kiss me, do you think you could get intoyour car and reverse it out of here, quickly? This is my Gajju Chacha's parkingslot and he gets really antsy if anybody else uses it...

Rawthe: Well, of course. We can't go upsetting GajjuChacha...

Rawthe said, sounding faintly irritated and pulling away from me entirely.

Rawthe: So why don't you run into the house now, isn't thatyour mongrel stirring again?

Sure enough, Meeku's quick little feet had pattered to thegate and now he had his paws up against it.

Rawthe watched wryly for a bit, thenhanded me myflyswatter-cum-back-scratcher.

Arjun: So, goodnight then, And make sure your dad picks upmy call, okay?

Riya: Okay.

He kissed on my cheek, hugged me tight nuzzled for sometimethen He waited for me to get to the gate, open it and latch it behind me. Thenhe got into the car and drove off.

***

this is the contract issued to riya by indianboard of cricket council. i thought it would be long if included and meaning less if exculded. so here you go

*This is a contract between RIYA SINGH MUKHERJEE (henceforthreferred to as the Undersigned) and the INDIAN BOARD OF CRICKETCONTROL(henceforth referred to as the Board). It pertains to a six-monthcontract of employment by the Board of the Undersigned in the position of thirdadditional coach to the Indian Board of Cricket Control Team (henceforthreferred to as the Team).

*The Undersigned is bound to EAT EVERY MEAL with the Teamfor the time period of the World Cup 2011 if the Team so wish it. The term'meals' pertains to breakfast.

*The Undersigned is EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN FROM EATING ANYSOLID FOOD WHATSOEVER WITH THE MEMBERS OF ANY OTHER TEAM, participating in anyCricket World Cup whatsoever.

*The Undersigned is to REFRAIN FROM FASTING OF ANY KIND atall mealtimes for the duration of the World Cup 2011 in spite of any religious injunctionsor reasons of health.

*The Undersigned is to REFRAIN FROM ANY BODILY CONTACT withany members of the Team, except from a kiss on the facial cheek or a comradelypat on the back.

*The Undersigned is to KISS AT LEAST ONE TEAM MEMBER on thefacial cheek directly after breakfast on the day of every India match.

*The Undersigned is expressly forbidden from engaging in anyphysical contact with any member of any other cricket team whatsoever.

*The Undersigned is forbidden from the Team locker room, theTeam strategy and coaching meetings and training sessions.

*The Undersigned is to defer at all times to the teamleadership and chain of command.

*The Undersigned is to refrain fromendorsing any productthat may be in conflict with the products or companies sponsoring the CricketWorld Cup 2011.

*The Undersigned is to MAINTAIN HER SPINSTER STATUS till the22nd of May 2011.

*The Undersigned is to treat every conversation with theTeam or any or every of its members as TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL. The Undersigned isto divulge no information regarding the workings and strategies of the team,that she may be privy to either intentionally or unintentionally.

*The Undersigned is to give NO INTERVIEWS OR QUOTES to anymember of the print, TV, email or radio press.

* The Undersigned is to travel and stay at any five-starhotel of the Board's choice in the continent of Australia for the period of theWorld Cup 2011.

*For this the Undersigned will receivefrom the Board, allexpenses paid, and a sum of RUPEES TEN LAKHS in cash, on the 23rd of May 2011.

*This sum will be paid out irrespective of how the teamperforms in the cricket world cup 2011.

IF HOWEVER, THE TEAM WINS THE ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011TOURNAMENT, THE SUM PAID OUT TO THE UNDERSIGNED WILL DOUBLE EXACTLY.

This is very very good

Be it shree and Riya's awkwardness

Or the best part

Arjun Riya's interactions

I am loving them

Feel like reading again

Thanks for pm and also update

Everything is so clear

U described everything in detail wow great writing skill and ariya conversation awesome fab update dear eagerly waiting for nxt and thanks for pm

Loved it dear

Awesome part

Thanks for the PM

Continue soon 😊