PART 3
Ten minutes has elapsed since she was forcefully dragged and seated in his car. And most stunning was that she was finding it hard to sustain the deafening silence in the closed space of his luxurious car...and what a car! Kalpi couldn't stop herself from admiring the wonderful car...plush seat, ever comfortable, smells so good, that of leather and another smell that smelled so good that she wanted to inhale the scent deep...what was that?
-oh God! I think I'm going crazy, here am I in a car with a practically stranger to me and I'm busying myself in finding scents, thought Kalpi. She shook her head from side to side to chide herself.
Raghav all the while was observing Kalpi from the corner of his eye. When she shook her head, an echo of sweet vanilla reached his nose. This smell was too much for him and he was reminded of the dance, how close she was and now this ever growing tension, her proximity, her silence and what on earth was she thinking that was bringing that lovely slight frown on her face? Raghav was about to ask when she spoke first, surprising him as he thought that conversation was not on the cards!
-the steering wheel is going to break, you know! She whispered in a low voice.
Raghav looked at her with a puzzled look and then look back at the steering. His knuckles were showing whites as he was gripping the wheel in a much too strong way. Damn!
- It won't! That's my style of driving. Any problem? Retorted Raghav, hoping she accept this one lie.
Kalpi rolled her eyes and looked out of her window.
- Can't you drive faster I mean I need to reach home, I'm drenched and need to change so as not to catch a cold...my results are coming up soon and I need to be just fit and fine.
- Oh come on Kalpi! Its summer time. You won't fall sick just because you are drenched! And I'm not driving faster...I'm already on the limits here. So chill!
- I'm just chilling all right here! With your AC which is blasting frosty air on me, I will definitely fall sick, thanks to you!
Suddenly she sneezed and her head fell forward pulling all her hair down on her face.
- Bless you! Said genuinely Raghav
Kalpi shot him a glare but then noticed that he was staring at her. When she was about to tell him thanks, his fingers started to move back the stands of hairs that stuck to her face as her hair was wet.
They both were lost in each other's presence and in the moment. It lapsed only for seconds but looked like it was for so long!
Kalpi broke the connection first and was thinking fast.
-say something, anything! Thought furiously Kalpi.
"errr, so where have you been, for all these years? USA right?" asked brightly Kalpi.
"New York. Then shifted to England and now moved back to India since last six months" said Raghav.
Six months?!? He was here since last six months?!?
"And all this time, what were you doing in India?" asked Kalpi looking directly at him now.
" I was settling my business in Delhi and other main cities. What about you?"
" was studying and now just finished off college. So, you've already met Paakhi too?"
"not really! I'm keeping my meetings with other acquaintance for later on." He said in a bitter voice.
The silence stretched on and Kalpi finally asked the one question that was burning a hole in her heart since she knew about him.
"And when is it scheduled to meet my aai? I mean kamla baii,kamla Jadhav?"
The car halted abruptly as Raghav applied the brakes all of a sudden.
"Soon...very soon" replied tersely Raghav. His mouth was set in a thin line as if he was trying to control a flow of emotions.
"Why? Why are you doing this now? You are back since six months, and not even tried to meet anyone, you met me during the interview at the college and yet you didn't reveal yourself to anyone, and...and you met Paakhi too, and she too isn't aware of anything, and the Kapoors, are they...I mean... you don't want to meet my aai as of now, what are you up to?" asked Kalpi in a rush.
Raghav turned around and glared at her. But strong Kalpi didn't back down.
" and now you are after me, you insulted me back then and now you...you...you almost kidnapped me in your car and I'm risking my health with your AC on here and I don't know what else. Just tell me why?"
" I can't tell you as of now Kalpi and I'm not answerable to anyone, least to you. And now get out!" he said with a finality in his tone.
"What? You are throwing me out now? Of all the arrogant..oh!" Kalpi was starting her lines when Raghav cleared off the mist on the windshield and Kalpi realized that she was already home. The rain was like a curtain on the windshield.
"hmmm, thanks for the ride...errr, Ragh..I mean sir. You sure you don't want to drop in and meet aai and baba and...Paakhi too as she'll definitely drop in sooner or later." Asked Kalpi. While she was sure he'll refuse, some part of her wanted him to really come.
"Bye Kalpi" said Raghav without looking at her, all the time staring ahead.
Kalpi snorted and immediately got off the car and also muttered "heartless" which Raghav heard clearly and grinned wickedly, saw her entry in haste in the chaawl's compound and then drove away at break neck speed!