Lalita's take : Updated for 26th February - Page 2

Chapter 2

Ram was just about to make another call when his General Manager informed him that all the people had already arrived for the meeting.

Ohh … thought Ram. So the video chat with his "love" (he was proud to think in this way) would be delayed. And somehow so many other things also fell into place simultaneously. He was just as sure of Priya's love for him at the same time and in the same measure. He recalled Priya's closed eyes when he was adjusting her bindi, the tears in her eyes when she saw him dance, her coming to the airport to see him off so late at night, the disapoointment when she couldn't see him at the airport and thought he had left and her unfinished sentence at the airport. With great difficulty, he locked away all thoughts of Priya and went into the meeting.

It took Ram just 10 minutes to realize that the distribution problem story was a big hoax. He tried to find out if anyone had tried to contact him and had finally contacted Niharikaji but drew a blank. His lips tightened with anger but with great difficulty he restrained himself from making a call to his step mother there and then. However, he excused himself from the meeting for a minute to make just one call.

Ram : Please book me on the next available flight back to India.

Then for the next 1 hour, Mr. Ram Kapoor, the business tycoon was back in his element. He ensured that his US team was fully clued on to his vision of where he wanted to take this company for the next 12 months and in the long run. He could now monitor everything from India. Finally he was free.

On his way to the airport, he debated whether to stop and buy a gift for his love, whether to let her know that he was coming. But finally he decided that he wanted to see the surprise and joy in her eyes when he entered the room. He wished he would be able to take a snap of her face at that moment. That would be a memory worth adding to his chocolate box. To treasure throughout his life.

He made a quick calculation. 2 hours to reach the airport, another hour for the flight to take off, an 18 hour journey, half an hour for customs, and other formalities and then …. Maybe an hour to reach home? Predicting Mumbai's traffic was the worst.

He just sent a message to her : Will be very busy for the next 24 hours. Sorry.

Priya received the message and was very dejected. He wasn't here, that was bad enough and now after learning about the video chat option where she coud actually see him …. getting a message that she would not even be able to hear him or talk to him for 24 hours was too much. Ok , let him call the next time, she thought. She would not take his call and pretend to be very busy. Grrr.

Next day morning. Priya was getting ready for her classes. 24 hours were already over. She had been counting hours the whole day and minutes since this morning. It was now 24 hours and 20 minutes. Should she put her phone on silent? So that she wouldn't be even tempted to pick up the call when it came? Not when, rather "IF" the call came, she corrected herself. The businessman was more likely to forget that he had given a timelimit for being busy.

She was ready. Only the bindi was remaining. She took out the packet of bindis and affixed one on her forehead. Was it in the centre? She peered into the mirror … and then … saw Ram standing behind her. Smiling softly. Was it possible? She turned round with her mouth wide open.

Ram slowly slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Priya could feel her heart beating wildly and was sure her husband could hear it too.

Ram : Toh Madam? Woh airport wala sentence zara complete karenge?

Priya is unable to reply. She keeps on staring at him with her beautiful dark expressive eyes.

"Priya" comes Daadi's voice from outside. Tu nashta karne nahin aayee? Tu late nahin ho rahi hai?

Ram : Ufff, Daadi ko bhi abhi aana tha …

Priya tries to free herself : Daadi bula rahi hain, she says softly.

Ram : Toh?

Priya : Mujhe jaana hoga

Ram : Kyon?

Priya : Toh Daadi kya sochengi?

Ram : Kya sochengi?

Priya : Please…..

Ram pulls her closer and closer and closer … and softly kisses her on her cheeks and releases her.

He turns to go to the washroom when Priya calls softly : Ram.

Ram is zapped and turns around immediately.

Priya takes the initiative this time. She goes close to him and rests her head on his chest : Thank you Ram. For everything.

They remain entwined in each other for a long time. Both of them have been though a lot together. They've seen their engagement break, renew, new highs during their honeymoon, new lows thereafter, sweet moments together during the cancer scare. They've maintained their trust on each other inspite of so many happenings, misunderstandings and were now in a situation where both of them could read each other's minds perfectly.

There was no need for a confession, for a declaration of love. They were one, at last.